Retired police chief, Goss, dies at age 72
James H. Goss, who retired in 1997 as chief of the Office of Public Safety at MUSC and the College of Charleston died Sunday, July 28. He was 72.
James
H. Goss
Mr. Goss began his career at MUSC in 1982 as an investigator/crime prevention officer. He became deputy chief in 1983 and chief in 1987, serving in that capacity until his retirement.
Following his retirement from the Buffalo, New York, Police Department, Mr. Goss came to Charleston in 1976 and again entered public service. This included several positions with the Charleston County Police Department and service as chief of police for the City of Hanahan. Additionally he held an appointment on the criminal justice faculty of Trident Technical College.
Under Mr. Goss’s leadership, the MUSC police department added a training division and assumed direct control of all security operations for the College of Charleston. He led the police efforts which brought the university through the challenges of Hurricane Hugo.
During his 41 years in law enforcement, Mr. Goss received numerous awards and citations. The Sons of the American Revolution honored him as Buffalo Police Officer of the Year in 1976. He was also cited for heroism in 1969 for pulling a man out of a submerged automobile.
In addition to his police work, Mr. Goss was an artist, well known for his work in wood sculpture. He specialized in country scenes and animal sculptures, especially pelicans. He spent 40 to 60 hours working on each of the four panels on the roller coaster in the atrium of the MUSC Children’s Hospital. On the panels, he sculpted panda bears, a gorilla, a rhinoceros and a lion and cubs.
“Chief Goss was always interested in children,” said Charles P. Darby, who was director of the Children’s Hospital and pediatric chair while Mr. Goss headed police and security operations. “The magnificent panels adorning our atrium bring immense pleasure to our young patients. Now they will serve as a memorial to a dedicated police officer, a talented wood carver, and an advocate for children.”
Mr. Goss was a member of the National Woodcarvers Association, Eitwan Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, the Omar Shrine Washington Light Infantry, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the S.C. Police Chiefs Association.
Mr. Goss served as secretary/treasurer, vice president and president of the South Carolina Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. He served on the Membership, Ways and Means and Professional Development committees of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. Additionally, he served as secretary/treasurer, vice chairman and chairman of the Palmetto Chapter of the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety.
He graduated from Buffalo State College in 1976. He served in the Army Air Corps and the Marine Corps.
Mr. Goss was born Feb. 13, 1930, in Buffalo, the son of Klement and
Ruth Kreitler Goss. He is survived by his wife, Margaret McNaughton Goss,
three sons, five daughters and 25 grandchildren.
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