Reginald L. 'Reggie' Burgess is an American law enforcement official and politician, serving as the 4th mayor of the City of North Charleston, South Carolina. Burgess is the first African-American mayor in the City's history.
Burgess and a younger brother were raised by a single mother in North Charleston.
Burgess served as a police officer for 24 years, becoming chief in 2018, the first African-American police chief in the city's history.
In 2019, Governor Henry McMaster nominated Burgess to Director of Public Safety, which would have to be confirmed by the legislature. Burgess accepted and later declined the nomination.
He announced his retirement in 2023.
See also: Killing of Walter Scott
On April 4, 2015, Walter Scott was shot and killed by Michael Thomas Slager, a North Charleston Police Department Officer. At the time, Burgess was North Charleston assistant chief of police. Burgess issued a public apology for the killing.
As North Charleston's police chief, Burgess worked to improve police accountability and community relations after the Scott killing.
On March 24, 2023, Burgess announced his run for mayor, after the incumbent mayor declined to run for re-election.
Other candidates who filed:
Endorsers for Burgess included:
Burgess won with 56% of the vote, becoming the first new mayor in close to 30 years.
On February 27, 2025, Burgess pledged transparency in a statement and an address to the public after three members of North Charleston City Council were charged with federal corruption with one suspended from office by Governor Henry McMaster.