Command Staff

Chief Stephenie Price

Early career

Chief Stephenie Price joined the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department in 1999, and rose to the rank of commander by 2019. During her tenure in Kansas City, she worked as Financial Services Unit captain. At various times she worked in training and certification, drug enforcement, vice, domestic violence, and internal affairs. Chief Price joined the Savannah Police Department in 2019 as the assistant police chief. While there, she oversaw the budget and was the domestic violence liaison to the prosecutor’s office and outreach services. She implemented a new recruiting strategy for the department and directed the department’s firearms range. In 2020, Price became police chief in Bluffton. She began an officer sabbatical program, mental health and wellness programs, and community programs to encourage crime awareness and positive interactions between police and the community.

Chief Price earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Park University and a master’s in business administration from Benedictine University. She is a graduate of the Center for Homeland Defense Executive Leaders Program, the FBI LEEDA Command Institute for Law Enforcement Executives, the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police, and most recently she obtained a certification from the International City Management Association. 

Joining the Beaufort PD

Chief Price began her tenure at the Beaufort Police Department in February of 2023 as deputy chief. She was sworn in as police chief on May 31, 2024.

Notable initiatives under her leadership include the implementation of programs such as Playoff with Patrol, Summer Police Explorers Program, Spanish Immersion Program, the inclusion of an in-resident mental health clinician, and the establishment of Safe Living Beaufort. Chief Price's strategic vision and commitment to fostering a safer and more connected community have significantly contributed to the department's mission and overall effectiveness.

Capt. Jason Day (Administrative)

Early career

Capt. Jason Day moved to Beaufort while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and later moved into a career in law enforcement. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Joining the Beaufort PD

Capt. Day began his career with the Beaufort Police Department in 2009, with prior law enforcement experience starting in 1997 with Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and Port Royal Police Department. Day started as a patrolman, and later was promoted to a patrol supervisor. In 2013 he was promoted to operations master sergeant, and in 2016 he was promoted to lieutenant. In September of 2022, he was promoted to captain, and he now oversees administrative functions of the Police Department.

Capt. Joseph Dobbins (Operations)

Early career

Capt. Joseph Dobbins was born in Brownton, W. Va. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the infantry as a machine gunner. While in the infantry he was selected to serve in Security Forces at Charleston, S.C. In 1995 he made a move into air traffic control. While serving as a controller, Dobbins made multiple combat deployments to Iraq, and in 2005 he was selected as the Command-and-Control Marine of the Year. He was promoted to master sergeant and spent a large part of his remaining military career in Beaufort. He retired from active duty in August 2011.     

Joining the Beaufort PD

Capt. Dobbins was hired by the Beaufort Police Department in July 2011 as a patrolman I. He was promoted through the ranks to the rank of first sergeant in August 2018. He supervised multiple patrol teams over the next three years. In December of  2021, he was promoted to master sergeant in the Operations Division. In October of 2022, he was promoted to Lieutenant, supervising patrol. In June 2024, he was promoted to Captain/Operations.

Lt. Charles Squires (Patrol)

Early career

Lt. Squires was born near Albany, N.Y., and grew up in the Adirondack Mountains, regularly visiting his grandparents on Fripp Island, S.C. After graduating from high school, Lt. Squires joined the U.S. Navy; some of his duties included shore patrol, which was when he became interested in law enforcement. He received a bachelor's in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina (Columbia). 

Joining the Beaufort PD

Upon being hired by the Hardeeville Police Department, Lt. Squires attended the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and received the distinguished graduate award. He worked patrol and was promoted to corporal and then investigator during the three years he was in Hardeeville.

In 1999, Lt. Squires was hired by the Beaufort Police Department as a patrolman III and was promoted to patrol sergeant in 2002. As a patrol sergeant he also focused on the department’s crime watch groups and police boat operations. In 2012, Lt. Squires was promoted to the position of lieutenant.

Lt. Trish Mendicino (Investigations)

Early career

Lieutenant Mendicino was born in North Tonawanda, NY, and moved to Beaufort, SC, in 2006 to pursue a career in law enforcement. She holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Leadership and Executive Management.

Joining the Beaufort PD

Lt. Mendicino began her career with the Beaufort Police Department in 2016. She brought with her a decade of prior law enforcement experience from the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and the Bluffton Police Department, where she served on the patrol team, investigations division, as a school resource officer, and on beach patrol. Starting as a patrol officer, she quickly advanced to patrol assistant supervisor in 2016. In 2019, she was promoted to Patrol 1st Sergeant. In October 2023, she became the Investigations Master Sergeant, and in July 2024, she was promoted to Lieutenant over the Investigations Division.