Beyond Serving and Protecting
For Police Chief Thomas Griffin, serving as the head of the Chapin Police Department isn’t just a milestone in his career, it’s a homecoming. Born and raised in Chapin, Chief Griffin now patrols the same streets that he grew up on. He and his wife are raising their two children there, in the heart of the community that shaped him.
The meaningful connection to the town extends beyond just Chief Griffin as the entire police department, while not required to do so, chooses to live within the community. It’s a personal investment that shapes the way they approach their work. When the people you serve and protect are your neighbors, friends, and local shop owners, the job takes on a deeper meaning.
While public safety will always be their core mission, Chief Griffin and his officers see their role as more than just enforcing the law. In a small town, he believes that the heart of policing lies in building relationships by showing up, getting to know local businesses, and being part of the moments that bring people together. That’s why the Chapin Police Department is a familiar presence at community gatherings, from one of the town’s oldest traditions—the Chapin Labor Day Festival and Parade—to one of its newest—Old Timey Christmas.
You’ll also find them participating in events that are uniquely their own, like the department’s annual Fall Night Out. “National Night Out is typically in August when it’s uncomfortably hot outside,” Chief Griffin said. “So, we decided to have a Fall Night Out. We usually have it the week before Halloween and invite other agencies to participate with us, such as the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the local Fire Department, and EMS. They bring out trucks, drones, and K9 units to the event. All of our officers work at different stations, and there’s even reading in the back where some officers are reading books to kids.”
The evening provides an exciting, hands-on experience for kids to enjoy and allows for the officers to interact with the community outside of the usual emergency context. It’s a welcoming atmosphere that allows officers and residents to get to know one another while enjoying an evening with family and friends.
The department’s community reach also extends into the local schools. While the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department provides School Resource Officers, Chief Griffin and his team make a point to stay involved and be a part of the school’s community.
“We go to the schools and read and visit with them as well,” Chief Griffin said. “The biggest thing that we do is every year is on Veterans Day. The American Legion puts on a parade with motorcycles through every school within the Chapin area. Our officers always lead that, and afterwards, we get out and interact with the children.”
The parade holds special significance for the department: Out of its ten officers, six are military veterans, including Chief Griffin himself. That shared background makes their participation not just ceremonial, but deeply personal, too.
The Chapin Police Department’s commitment to community services doesn’t end with public events and parades. For all of the officers, wearing the badges means finding ways to serve in everyday moments, especially when it comes to helping those facing hardships. That’s why their outreach extends into partnerships that provide direct support to residents in need.
“We proudly participate with Serve & Connect and the Greg’s Groceries initiative,” Chief Griffin said. “We regularly attend packing events and bring back Greg’s Groceries boxes that each of our officers keep in their patrol vehicles. This allows us to distribute them directly to individuals and families in need throughout our community whenever the opportunity arises.”
The police department’s partnership with Serve & Connect furthers its goal of building trust, compassion, and connection with the residents of Chapin. “It allows us to make a positive impact, one box at a time, which is why we’re honored to be a Greg’s Groceries partner,” Chief Griffin said.
Looking ahead, Chief Griffin’s focus remains on deepening those connections while ensuring that Chapin stays a safe, welcoming place to live and raise a family. That means continuing to embrace community-based policing, ensuring that his officers continually improve their training, supporting local schools, and finding creative ways for residents and officers to engage with one another outside of emergencies.
The department is committed to continuous learning as they regularly engage in a wide range of training programs both locally and nationally. This dedication ensures that every officer stays sharp and up-to-date on the latest techniques so that they can be fully prepared to provide the highest level of service and protection to Chapin.
“When it comes to the community involvement side of things, we are focused on what we’ve been doing already by getting out into the community, schools, and businesses,” Chief Griffin said. “We see a big return on investment there when it comes to the community’s trust in us, trust in what we do, and trust in the individual officers.”
Chief Griffin knows that while both the town and the officers may change over the years, the measure of the Chapin Police Department will always come down to the relationships it builds within the community. For him, leading the department isn’t about making sweeping changes—It’s about reinforcing the values that have long made Chapin feel like home to everyone that lives there.