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A special agent of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has been terminated for misconduct after 15 years as an investigator with the Gang Intelligence Unit, according to personnel files obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
On May 25, 2024, SLED lieutenant Mark Ronald Berube, 51, was stopped for speeding while operating a state-issued vehicle. Shortly thereafter, S.C. State Transport Police (SCSTP) officer S.A. Brock detected a strong odor of alcohol on Berube.
According to state records, Officer Brock conducted a standard field sobriety test which Berube swiftly failed. He was subsequently charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and transported to the Lexington County Detention Center at about 12:00 a.m. EST.
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? #BadgeGoneBad: A special agent of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (#SLED) has been terminated after 15 years as an investigator with the Gang Intelligence Unit.
— Andrew Fancher (@RealAndyFancher) July 16, 2024
On May 25, 2024, SLED Lieutenant Mark R. Berube was stopped for speeding in a state-issued vehicle by… pic.twitter.com/JGt1mpaeF0
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Within hours of being arrested, a state supervisor terminated Berube and retrieved his equipment from the detention center, according to SLED Spokesperson Renée Wunderlich. Come 10:00 a.m. EST, Magistrate Bradley Melton granted Berube a $992 cash surety bond.
“Ultimately, you refused to take a breathalyzer test,” SLED chief Mark Keel wrote in an email to Berube on May 28, 2024. “As a law enforcement officer and SLED Lieutenant, your conduct is unacceptable and you are no longer fit for continued employment at SLED.”
Come May 29, four days after being arrested, Berube’s estranged/ex-wife posted his bond. The S.C. National Guard (SCNG) solider has since retained council from the Moore Bradley Myers Law Firm and requested a jury trial for his misdemeanor charge.
Prior to joining SLED, Berube was employed by the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services (SCDPPPS) for nine years and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department (LCSD) for one year. Come October 2008, Former Governor Mark Sanford commissioned Berube as an agent.
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Specializing in gang intelligence and investigations, Berube is said to have supported innumerable agencies across the Palmetto State and beyond — so much so that at least one cabinet-level agency complimented his service ahead of a rank promotion in October 2016.
His 122-page personnel file contains additional praise from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Pender County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Greenville County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO), Myrtle Beach Police Department (MBPD) and Belton Police Department (BPD), among other agencies.
On October 23, 2018, major general John L. Gronski, former deputy commanding general of the Army National Guard (ARNG), complimented SLED upon Berube’s deployment overseas. He returned from military leave around January 2, 2019, according to personnel records.
Approximately one month prior to his DUI arrest, Berube’s supervisors referred to him as “exceptional” at least nine times during an annual performance review. He was poised to continue leadership and tactical assistance with State Surveillance and Intelligence (SSI) Team Two.
According to Wunderlich, the last time a SLED employee was terminated following an arrest was in January 2020.
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BERUBE’S PERSONNEL FILE
(SLED)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
(Dynal Nolan/FITSNews)
Andrew Fancher is a Lone Star Emmy award-winning journalist from Dallas, Texas. Cut from a bloodline of outlaws and lawmen alike, he was the first of his family to graduate college which was accomplished with honors. Got a story idea or news tip for Andy? Email him directly and connect with him socially across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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1 comment
This demonstrates what sets Chief Keel apart from other Law Enforcement officials around the state and the country. Law enforcement officers should be held to a higher standard. This is seldom the case in South Carolina. Usually when a police officer or sheriffs deputy is arrested the Sheriff or Chief allows them to stay on the payroll pending the resolution of their charges. This is not acceptable and erodes public trust and confidence in law enforcement. Kudos to Chief Keel for having the backbone to do the right thing.