Sherfield Sworn In as Laurens Police Chief

The City of Laurens officially welcomed Police Chief Dillon Sherfield on Monday, July 20, following a swearing-in ceremony at the City of Laurens Municipal Building.

Sherfield, a Laurens native and longtime member of the Laurens Police Department, steps into the role as Chief Heath Copeland prepares to retire at the end of July after more than 26 years with the department. The city honored Copeland at a recognition held earlier this month.

Mayor Nathan Senn opened the ceremony by describing the day as both a beginning and a continuation.

“Today’s ceremony isn’t about replacing Chief Copeland,” Senn said. “It’s about continuing the strong foundation of leadership, service and commitment that has been built within this department.”

Senn read from Copeland’s retirement letter, in which the outgoing chief wrote that Sherfield had stood by his side from the beginning and was well prepared to assume leadership of the department.

Senn said what makes the appointment especially meaningful is that the city is not welcoming an outsider, but entrusting the role to someone who grew up in Laurens, chose to build his career there and has dedicated his entire law enforcement career to protecting the community he calls home.

A graduate of Laurens District 55 High School, Sherfield earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Piedmont Technical College, where he was named to both the Dean’s List and the President’s List. He joined the Laurens Police Department in January 2015 and graduated with honors from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy a few months later.

In 2016, Sherfield led the largest heroin and cash seizure in the history of the Laurens Police Department. He received the Certificate of Valor in 2017 for courage in the line of duty and became a K-9 handler that same year with his partner, Kai, earning national certification through the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association.

He has helped train and mentor new officers since 2016 and was promoted to sergeant in 2020, lieutenant in 2021 and captain in 2022, overseeing patrol operations, specialized units and many of the department’s administrative responsibilities.

Sherfield has continued his professional development while serving the city, completing multiple FBI leadership programs, attending the FBI Command College and earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Faulkner University. He graduated with honors in 2025 with a 3.91 GPA and received the Lou Harris Criminal Justice Honor Award for academic excellence.

Public service also runs deep in his family. His great-grandfather, James Barrett, served as chief of police for the City of Laurens for 20 years.

Senn said Sherfield’s vision for the department centers on professionalism, accountability, strong relationships and building trust with the community.

“Dillon has earned the trust and respect of our police officers, our city leadership and our community,” Senn said. “I am excited for the future of the Laurens Police Department under Chief Sherfield’s leadership.”

Sherfield was joined by his family for the administration of the oath of office.