07/13/2026
On behalf of the members of the Pacolet Police Department, I want to speak today about the passing of United States Senator Lindsey Graham.
Senator Graham was a son of South Carolina in every sense of the word. He grew up in this state, he served this state in Washington for more than two decades, and he never forgot where he came from. That showed in the way he treated small towns like ours.
I was fortunate enough to have spent time with Senator Graham on several occasions. He was personable, approachable, polite, humorous, generous, and brilliant. Much like our agency, he was committed to customer service. He was everything that a true son of South Carolina should be, and he will be sorely missed.
Our agency benefited directly from Senator Graham's commitment to law enforcement in South Carolina on more than one occasion. Most recently through federal funding he helped secure, we were able to purchase a patrol vehicle for our department, a vehicle that has been in service on the streets of Pacolet every day since, protecting the people who live and work here. For a small agency like ours, that kind of support is not a line item. It is the difference between doing more with what we have and doing without.
What made Senator Graham's impact so significant was that Pacolet was not unique. He did this for police departments and small towns across South Carolina, in every corner of the state, always without fanfare. He understood that without public safety, no other function of government or civilized society could happen, and he made sure that support reached small towns like Pacolet.
Senator Graham's death is a loss for South Carolina and for our country as a whole. On behalf of the officers of the Pacolet Police Department, I extend our deepest condolences to his family, his staff, and everyone who knew him. We are grateful for what he did for our agency, our town, and our state, and that gratitude will not fade with this sad news.
Chief Joseph Hawes
Pacolet Police
