GREENWOOD, S.C. — A police officer died in the line of duty on May 12, marking a tragedy for the Greenwood Police Department.
K-9 Officer D.J. Keller, 31, succumbed to injuries sustained in a head-on collision while responding to a pursuit involving a suspect vehicle linked to recent shootings. Authorities confirmed Keller is the department's first officer killed on duty since 1956.
The incident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on East Cambridge Avenue, where a 2016 Jeep Wrangler, sought for a traffic stop, crossed into oncoming traffic and struck Keller's Ford Explorer. The driver, a 15-year-old, and two passengers, ages 17 and 18, were transported to nearby hospitals; their conditions remain unknown.
Keller's K-9 partner, Vice, was present during the crash but was not injured. Chief T.J. Chaudoin expressed the profound loss felt within the department and the community, stating, “The loss is being felt deeply.”
Keller joined the police force in March 2023 after serving in the U.S. Army and National Guard. He is survived by his wife, Alison, and their 2-year-old daughter. A South Carolina nonprofit, Serve & Protect, is raising funds to support his family.
An investigation is ongoing, conducted by the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Social media posts following the incident depicted significant damages and additional circumstances of the crash, which Chaudoin addressed briefly. “That officer did nothing wrong. He was just serving our community, doing what I asked,” he said.
Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.