Don Roper

 Chief of Police
Droper@lancastercitysc.com
803.283.1170

Don Roper started as a patrol officer at the Gastonia Police Department in 1987. He brings to Lancaster over 35 years experience in Law Enforcement, including 24 years as a supervisor. Roper recently retired from the Mount Holly Police Department, where he worked for nine years as the Chief of Police.

When Chief Roper met with Police Department staff on Monday August 22, 2022, he told the staff that he is an officer first and always will be an officer first.

Chief Roper has extensive training and experience in all aspects of Law Enforcement. He earned his master’s degree from Appalachian State University in Public Administration and his bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Social Science from Gaston College and Gardner-Webb University respectively. He earned a Graduate Certificate of Criminal Justice from the University of Virginia. And he graduated from the FBI National Academy, Session 246.

His training is extensive and impressive, Chief Roper has completed over 4,000 hours of formal training in law enforcement in the following areas, investigations, narcotics, tactical team operations, community-oriented policing, ATF, and gang crimes. In 2019, Chief Roper received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award from the North Carolina Governor.

We welcome Chief Roper to the Red Rose City and to the Lancaster Police Department. This is an exciting time for the Department and for the City of Lancaster.