The Challenge Before Us: Law Enforcement Recruitment and the Fight to Protect the Profession

Across South Carolina, law enforcement agencies are facing a crisis that can no longer be ignored: we’re losing the ability to recruit and retain the men and women needed to protect our communities.

At a recent press conference, Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock delivered the message plainly: “We are allotted 272 officers… we are down 50.” Despite an active recruiting unit and 17 conditional offers extended, the department is still struggling to close the gap.

This isn’t just a Myrtle Beach problem. It’s not a Grand Strand issue or a post-COVID dip in interest. This is a statewide and nationwide reckoning with what it means to be in this profession—and how society values the people who do it. This recent article highlights just how serious the shortage has become and how recruitment challenges are affecting departments across the state.

The Weight of the Badge

Fewer people are choosing law enforcement as a career. The reasons aren’t hard to understand: the job is dangerous, the stress is relentless, and the support—from the public and policymakers alike—is far too often missing.

SCFOP President John Blackmon put it clearly:

“When officers feel unsupported, it sends a clear message to potential recruits: this is not a career where you will be backed, even when you do everything right.”

That message reverberates through every department, every shift briefing, and every recruit preparing to enter the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.

The result? Empty uniforms. Unfilled shifts. And increasing danger for those still showing up.

A Demanding Job with Shrinking Rewards

This profession is one of sacrifice. But sacrifice should not mean neglect.
Officers are being asked to do more with less—less pay, fewer resources, and increasing legal vulnerability. We’re watching as highly qualified candidates walk away from law enforcement careers and into private sector jobs that offer better pay, more predictable hours, and far less risk.

“Compensation has not kept pace with the rising risks and demands of the job,” said Blackmon. “If we want to attract and retain the best, we need to make the profession competitive again.”

Raising starting salaries isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Our officers are professionals, and they should be compensated accordingly. But compensation is only one piece of the equation.

Legal Protections and Mental Health Support

We also must confront what it means to serve in a profession where one wrong decision—sometimes made in a split second—can end a career or worse.

Qualified immunity, legal protection for justified use of force, and comprehensive liability coverage are not about shielding bad actors. They’re about ensuring good officers don’t pay a personal price for doing their jobs within the law.

And then there’s the mental toll.

Following a recent officer-involved shooting in Myrtle Beach that left one suspect dead and 11 others injured, the emotional impact was clear—not just for the community, but for the officers involved.

Incidents like these leave lasting scars. Yet too often, officers are expected to process trauma in silence.

There is a stigma around seeking help that must be broken. As a profession, and as a public, we have to provide access to mental health resources and encourage their use—not as a sign of weakness, but as a matter of wellness and survival.

The FOP’s Commitment

At the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, we are not standing on the sidelines.

We are advocating every day for legislation that:

• Increases officer pay and retirement benefits
• Protects those returning to serve post-retirement
• Expands legal protections for officers in the field
• Ensures access to confidential and effective mental health services
• Supports departments in their mission to recruit and retain the next generation of law enforcement professionals

This is our mission because it must be. If we fail to protect the profession, we risk the safety of every community in this state.

And we’re not alone. The recent executive order from the White House supporting law enforcement is a major step in the right direction. It shows that the national conversation is beginning to shift—but it must continue.

It’s Not Optional

Supporting law enforcement is not optional. It’s essential.

This profession doesn’t ask for special treatment—it asks for fairness, for respect, and for the resources to do the job right. The officers still showing up across South Carolina are doing so under intense pressure. They deserve more than thanks. They deserve action.

And to the silent majority—we know you support law enforcement. But now is the time to speak up. We need your voices in city halls, in statehouses, and in conversations around kitchen tables. The profession is under pressure, and silence helps no one.

We’re asking the public, legislators, and community leaders to understand the stakes. If we want safe neighborhoods, responsive agencies, and effective public safety—we must start by investing in the people who make it happen.

The badge comes with weight. It’s time we stop asking our officers to carry it alone.