Fountain Inn Police Chief Announces Retirement After Thirty-One Years of Service

Fountain Inn, SC: After a distinguished 31-year career with the City of Fountain Inn Police Department, Police Chief Michael Hamilton has announced his retirement, effective July 31.

“It has been a great honor and privilege to serve a career as a police officer for the City of Fountain Inn. It was a dream come true when I became a police officer in 1992, and how thankful I am to have lived out that dream protecting and serving the Fountain Inn community. I am forever grateful to the City of Fountain Inn and the community for the opportunity to serve others,” said Michael Hamilton, Fountain Inn Chief of Police.

Chief Hamilton began his career with the department in 1992 as a patrol officer. He was appointed as Police Chief in 2019, and as Chief has set the example for community driven initiatives during a time of exponential growth. On day one as Chief, his main goal was to create a police force that served the community and was approachable. “I wanted the community to be comfortable and confident they could come to us for help or have a friendly conversation. As a department, we have grown positively in this goal!” said Chief Hamilton.

Chief Hamilton also prioritized the start of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation(SCLEA) process through the official South Carolina state accrediting body. This accreditationrequires the voluntary adoption of professional standards and analysis to ensure department operations meet these standards. It is anticipated the department will receive accreditation early June 2023.

“Chief Hamilton has been a great leader for our Police Department from his first day as an officer to his tenure as Chief. He has helped us navigate challenges and opportunities over the years. He is retiring, leaving a legacy of humble leadership, care, and compassion for the community and a better-prepared police department. It has been an honor to work with someone with the level of integrity, thoughtfulness, and passion as Chief Michael Hamilton possesses. I am happy for him to have the opportunity to retire to spend time with his family and pursue his next chapter.” – GP Mcleer, Mayor of Fountain Inn

“Chief Hamilton is the type of man you want your son to grow-up to be. He’s a man of faith, family, and fidelity. While 30 years of service with one organization is an amazing accomplishment, his true legacy will be how well he treated people during those 30 years. I appreciate and admire Chief Hamilton greatly and wish nothing but success in his future endeavors.” – Shawn Bell, Fountain Inn City Administrator

The City of Fountain Inn has begun the process of recruiting for Police Chief, accepting applications through the City’s website, www.fountaininn.org on the Human Resources page.