Greenwood Police Officer Don “DJ” Keller died Monday evening, May 11, when a vehicle fleeing from a high-speed chase slammed into his patrol SUV.
Keller, 31, was a K-9 handler who had served with the department for several years. He was pronounced dead at the scene on East Cambridge Avenue. His dog, Vice, was in the vehicle with him but was not injured.
The crash happened around 4:56 p.m. near the intersection with Ames Street and North Hospital Street.
Greenwood Officer Don “DJ” Keller Responds to Assist in Chase
Greenwood Police say officers were pursuing a blue Jeep carrying three teenagers as the Jeep crossed into oncoming traffic and struck Keller’s vehicle as he responded to assist in the chase.
The Jeep caught fire after the impact. The three teens were taken to the hospital with injuries. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is currently investigating the crash. No charges have been announced so far.
Keller was a U.S. Army veteran and served in the South Carolina Army National Guard. He’s been a K-9 handler since 2025 and married his wife Alison 10 years ago. They had a two-year-old daughter.
Greenwood Police Chief TJ Chaudoin spoke with emotion Tuesday about the loss. The department described Keller as a man who dedicated his life to serving and protecting others.
“Today is an extremely difficult day for our department and our community,” the department said in a statement.
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This marks the first line-of-duty death for the Greenwood Police Department since 1956, a gap of 70 years.
Flags at the Statehouse will fly at half-staff on the day of Keller’s funeral, Gov. Henry McMaster said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham called the death heartbreaking and pointed to Keller’s record of service. “Officer Keller dedicated his life to service,” Graham wrote on his X handle.
“The loss of Officer Keller is a somber reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face on a daily basis.”
Other state leaders offered prayers for Keller’s family and fellow officers. Nancy Mace and Attorney General Alan Wilson joined in sending condolences.
Keller’s death hit the small city hard as citizens and law enforcement from neighboring agencies gathered at the scene Monday night as emergency lights lit up the area. Video from the scene showed heavy damage to the patrol vehicle.
Greenwood Police have not released many personal details yet, but those who knew Keller described him as committed to his job and his community.
Colleagues remembered him as a steady presence on the streets and a proud handler of his K-9 partner.
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The incident gives a picture of the risks that officers face when they walk into the unknown situation during police pursuits.
In this case, authorities said Keller was not the primary pursuit vehicle but was responding to back up other officers already involved in the pursuit.
While investigators work to determine the cause of the crash, the Greenwood Police Department and local leaders are focusing on supporting Keller’s family. There is no public funeral arrangement.
With Keller’s death, there is a young widow and a toddler without a husband and father. And it also leaves a department and a city mourning one of their own. It is particularly painful for a department that has not lost an officer in the line of duty for seven decades.
Community members left flowers and notes at the crash site on Tuesday. Many said the same thing: officers don the uniform every day knowing they may not come home, and Keller paid that price.
