Grounsell Named Simpsonville's New Police Chief

This story has been updated.

After an intensive summer-long search and vetting process, the Simpsonville City Council on Tuesday night selected Keith Grounsell, an investigator with the 13th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office, as the city's next police chief.

Grounsell, who will replace retired Chief Charles Reece, edged out the city's assistant police chief, Colleen O'Neil, to become the city's top cop. With both Grounsell and O'Neil in attendance, the Council announced their decision following an executive session in which each of the six Council members and Mayor Perry Eichor made their selection through individual ballots. 

"I'm excited," Grounsell told Patch afterward. "This has been a long-term goal of mine. I've done a lot of things in my career, but this is definitely the epitome of all of them."

Who voted for whom remains a mystery, but Eichor and other Council members said afterward that the Council was impressed with the youthful Grounsell's range of law enforcement experience and education. In addition to a lengthy resume, Grounsell also has a Masters in Criminal Justice, and a Bachelors in Sociology.

"His experience, his professionalism, his education, his backing in the community — here, in Greenville, in Fountain Inn — it's just unbelievable. [He's] just a wonderful person," Council member Geneva Lawrence told Patch.

"I liked his education, but especially his experience — his experience with gangs, drugs, undercover [operations]. I think, all-around, he's got it all," added Council member Sylvia Lockaby.

The process to find a new chief began in June upon the retirement of Chief Reece. On Tuesday, Grounsell emerged as the last person standing from an original field of 49 applicants.

"I'm very much relieved it's over," Lockaby said. "I think we picked the right person in my opinion. We were very thorough, and we tried to make sure we did it right."

"It was a very tough decision. We had two outstanding people," Eichor said. "It was a very close decision…and I can't say anything negative about either of them."

When Grounsell starts work remained unclear. Now that the Council has made its decision, Grounsell and City Administrator Russ Hawes must iron out an employment agreement, including a salary. The current salary range for the police chief's position is between $61,674 and $92,510.

Whenever he starts, and whatever the pay, Grounsell made it clear he was ready to hit the ground running, especially after an intensive vetting process he called "grueling and nerve-wracking at times."

"I'm ready to rock and roll, ready to get things started, and address the officers for the first time and let them know my expectations of them and go from there, and just take things one step at a time," he said. 

"Sitting down with each officer one on one, that will be the key," he added. "And also get out and talk with the citizens and the business owners, the people who are here everyday and who live here, to see what their concerns are from how things have been run in the past. There is always room for improvement in law enforcement. I don't care how good you are, you're never going to stop all crime. But I can tell you this — working with the citizens, having that extra set of eyes out there, can definitely make a difference.

"I just want to make us one of the best departments in the state of South Carolina," he added.

Grounsell, a Simpsonville resident who has a wife (Reese) and three children (ages 2, 5, and 7), boasts an impressive pedigree built over 15 years in law enforcement. 

His first job in law enforcement was with the Mauldin Police Department, but he's also worked with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, the state's Juvenile Justice department, and also worked with federal contractor DynCorp International in Afghanistan, where he trained and helped build 50 police departments, as well as supervised the training and mentoring of the Afghan National Police Special Forces Units.

Six of his 15 years in law enforcement include supervisory and command experience, including command of a 36-county anti-gang and violent-crime task force. 

Grounsell also boasts extensive community and civic involvement with such organizations as the Prevent Addiction Problems Association, the Citizen Advisory Committee for the Greenville-Pickens Area Transportation Study, and Changing Attitudes Now, a program used in several area schools to teach children the rewards of making positive life choices. 

Additionally, Grounsell is a state-certified Guardian ad Litem, according to his resume.

"I've always been trying to stay involved in the community, and trying to further myself as an individual — and as a lawman," Grounsell said. "That's the most important thing. You never stop learning. I'm always going to learn something new in this job. And the day I think I know everything, I need to retire."