On February 6 and 7, 2026, law enforcement leaders from across the southern United States will gather in North Charleston, South Carolina, for the Southern States Association of the Fraternal Order of Police 2026 Conference. Hosted by the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police at the North Charleston Convention Center, the conference brings together representatives from twelve states united by a shared responsibility to lead the profession with purpose and resolve.
The Fraternal Order of Police is not a single organization operating in isolation. It is a network, built from local lodges, strengthened by state leadership, and aligned nationally, designed to deliver for law enforcement officers at every level. The Southern States Conference reflects that structure in action. Leaders from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia will convene not as separate interests, but as a coordinated body committed to advancing the profession together.
This conference is a working leadership forum. It is where the business of the Order is conducted, priorities are examined, and direction is shaped. Delegates will engage in training, governance discussions, and professional exchanges that directly affect how the FOP serves its members. These conversations are practical and direct, grounded in the realities faced by officers and agencies every day. They focus on strengthening leadership, improving organizational effectiveness, and ensuring the Order remains prepared to meet the demands placed on modern policing.
A central strength of the Fraternal Order of Police is its ability to bring experienced leaders together across jurisdictions. The challenges facing law enforcement do not stop at city or state lines. Recruitment pressures, retention concerns, officer wellness, public expectations, and the need for consistent professional standards are shared realities. Addressing them requires coordination, trust, and a willingness to learn from one another. The Southern States Conference provides that space, where lessons learned in one state can inform decisions in another, and where collective experience becomes a shared asset.
Conference attendees will also hear from Dr. Ron Camacho, Chief of the North Charleston Police Department, who will contribute to the broader dialogue among peer law enforcement executives. His participation reflects the importance of grounding regional and national conversations in local leadership experience. These perspectives help ensure discussions remain connected to operational realities and community responsibility.
Hosting this conference is a reflection of South Carolina FOP’s role within the broader Order. SCFOP serves as a connector, linking local lodges to regional partners and national alignment. That network is what allows the FOP to provide meaningful benefits to its members: legal protection, legislative advocacy, officer wellness resources, leadership development, and support for officers and families in times of need. These outcomes are not accidental. They are the result of sustained coordination, shared values, and leaders willing to do the work required to keep the organization strong.
The Southern States Association Conference also demonstrates unity. Strength in the Fraternal Order of Police comes from standing together across states, agencies, and roles. By convening leaders from twelve states, the conference shows what that unity looks like in practice, not as a slogan, but as an operating model.
As the profession continues to face scrutiny, change, and evolving expectations, the need for credible, organized, and principled leadership remains constant. The Fraternal Order of Police exists to meet that need. This conference is one example of how the Order fulfills its responsibility: by bringing leaders together, addressing challenges directly, and reinforcing the network that supports law enforcement officers every day.
South Carolina FOP is proud to host this gathering, not as a ceremonial role, but as part of its ongoing commitment to leadership, unity, and service to the profession.
