Greenville Co. Law Enforcement Thanked for Service

GREENVILLE COUNTY, SC (WSPA) — Hundreds of Greenville County police officers were thanked for their service Friday.

It was part of LEAD Upstate’s law enforcement appreciation event at Greenville Downtown Airport.

“I think we had over 700 people drive out here to receive a grab bag, breakfast and handshakes from some of the law enforcement supporters,” said Attorney General Alan Wilson.

The event has been held for 10 years to show appreciation for local law enforcement.

“I’ve seen Laurens driving around here, Greer, Fountain Inn, Simpsonville, you name it,” said James Stephens, the director of Greenville Downtown Airport.

Police officers, sheriff’s deputies and highway patrol officers filed through the “Line of Gratitude,” where they received breakfast and gifts donated by local businesses.

Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis and police chiefs from Greenville County cities greeted law enforcement officials.

“We have a lot of people who are dropping their kids off at school or who are off today and have their significant other with them,” Lewis said. “You can tell them in front of their family how great they’re doing and how much you appreciate them. We hope it makes them feel good.”

Following the meeting, Wilson hosted a roundtable discussion with Greenville County law enforcement officials to discuss the issues facing their communities.

“The Upstate of South Carolina has become the front door for drug trafficking and all sorts of other activities that come from the southern border in cooperation with Mexican drug cartels,” Wilson said. “There’s a lot of drug trafficking. I’m concerned about potential gang activity and cartel activity coming into South Carolina. We’re also addressing human trafficking.”

Wilson said he hopes the meeting will help the state provide more support to law enforcement in the Upstate.

“We have the opportunity to bring in the state juries and the federal folks to take a comprehensive approach to combating drug trafficking and human trafficking,” Wilson said. “When we hear what they’re dealing with on the ground, we can better assess how we can best support them going forward.”