In a recent blog post, we emphasized that law and liberty go hand in hand. That message bears repeating. Public safety does not sustain itself. It requires deliberate, strategic investment. Without it, communities suffer, officers leave, and progress stalls.

Across South Carolina, the law enforcement profession is strained. Agencies are facing historic staffing shortages. Vacancy rates in some state-level departments have exceeded 49 percent, with annual turnover rates as high as 38 percent. That means fewer trained officers on patrol, longer response times, and increased pressure on the ones who remain. These numbers are not abstract. They affect every community that depends on timely, professional law enforcement response.

Strategic investment means more than filling seats. It means funding competitive pay that retains good officers. It means equipping them with the tools they need to do the job safely and professionally. And it means providing agencies with the resources to recruit the next generation of qualified candidates. In today’s climate, no one enters this profession lightly. If we want the best, we have to show them it’s worth it.

Investment in law enforcement is also a prerequisite for economic development. Businesses and industries will not come to communities they perceive as unsafe. When violent crime rises, property crime spikes, or emergency response times lengthen, it sends a message to investors that public order is uncertain. Companies consider more than tax rates and incentives when selecting where to build, expand, or relocate. They look at school safety, workforce stability, and neighborhood quality of life. All of those factors are anchored in strong, visible, fully staffed law enforcement agencies.

“No business will invest in a community it does not believe is safe. Public safety is the foundation of economic growth. South Carolina must invest in law enforcement if we want to attract investment and build long-term prosperity.”
— John Blackmon, President, South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police

Economic development leaders across the country have said the same thing for years. If your town or city cannot keep families safe, no amount of infrastructure or business incentive will matter. South Carolina has enormous potential, but we cannot reach it with depleted departments, aging equipment, and high turnover among trained officers. Public safety is not just a cost. It is a stabilizing investment that enables every other form of growth.

Communities that invest in law enforcement also see stronger local economies. A safe environment encourages tourism, supports small businesses, and increases property values. In contrast, underfunded agencies contribute to officer burnout, slower response, and public distrust—conditions that drive economic opportunity away.

We invite you to stand with us in calling for greater investment in the men and women who safeguard our state. A strong public safety foundation does not just support law enforcement. It protects the communities we serve, the businesses we hope to attract, and the future we are working to build together.