The South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police stands firmly with Greenville County FOP Lodge #17 following the recent ambush of a City of Greenville police officer. While we are grateful this officer survived and is now home with his family, this incident is a sobering reminder of the very real dangers law enforcement officers face every day across our state.
Violence against law enforcement in South Carolina is not isolated, and it is not theoretical. Officers face threats not only while responding to calls for service, but also in places that should represent safety and routine. These attacks impact entire agencies, families, and communities. They underscore the reality that there is no true safe zone for those who wear the badge and commit themselves to protecting others.
In response, Greenville County FOP Lodge #17 issued the following open letter to their community. We are sharing it in full to support their message, amplify their voice, and ask the public to stand with the men and women who continue to serve with courage and professionalism.
Open Letter from Greenville County FOP Lodge #17
Ten days. That is all it took for the new year to be marred by one of the most heinous attacks on law enforcement our state has seen, occurring right here in our own backyard.
Today, we are breathing a collective sigh of relief because, by the grace of God, a City of Greenville officer survived a cowardly ambush. He is home with his family today, but the path to recovery is just beginning. While he is surrounded by the love of his house, the physical wounds sustained will take months to heal, and he faces a difficult surgery in the coming days to begin that process.
What makes this attack so chilling is where it happened: the parking lot of a police station. A place that should be a sanctuary of safety became a scene of brazen violence. It is a stark, heartbreaking reminder that for a police officer, there is no “safe” zone. The dangers they face are not just on the 911 calls or the high-speed chases; the risk is ever-present, even in the places they call home.
We ask the Greenville community to keep this officer in your prayers and your hearts. As he prepares for surgery and the long recovery ahead, please also remember the many men and women from our federal, state, county, municipal, college, and hospital agencies. They go out every day to serve a community they love, knowing full well the sacrifices that may be asked of them.
Greenville County FOP Lodge #17 knows that our officers are only as strong as the community that supports and backs them. In this moment of recovery, we thank you for standing with us.
Respectfully,
Michael Hammett
President, Greenville County FOP Lodge #17 Lodge 17 Statement
We ask our members, community leaders, and citizens across South Carolina to support and share this message. Standing with law enforcement means rejecting violence, supporting accountability paired with due process, and recognizing the sacrifices made daily by officers and their families. When communities stand with those who protect them, everyone is safer.
