JOHNSONVILLE, S.C. — Johnsonville Police Chief Ron Douglas and two officers resigned following a city council decision to deny raises, leaving the department without personnel. The Johnsonville Police Department will cease operations after these departures and a subsequent two-week transition period.

The Johnsonville city council voted on June 30, 2026, to keep the police department open but declined to provide raises for the three officers. Douglas stated that financial hardships and disagreements with the city council led to the resignations. He requested $24,000 in raises for himself and the other officers after the council indicated it would not fill a vacant position within the department.

Douglas will continue to patrol Johnsonville as the department's only officer for two weeks following his resignation. After this period, the Florence County Sheriff's Office will provide law enforcement services to the city. Douglas served with the Johnsonville Police Department for 24 years.

Douglas alleged that city councilors had considered closing the police department and the city's golf course as a cost-saving measure. He also stated that the department often relied on community fundraising rather than city funds. "The city has not spent a penny for equipment over those years because the citizens have donated the money for the equipment through our annual fundraiser," Douglas said. "That's against the law and that's immoral."

Douglas further alleged that the department faced pressure from the city to generate revenue through traffic enforcement. Johnsonville has a population of around 1,300 residents, according to the 2020 census.