Charleston mourns ‘tragic death’ of police chief days after he entered hospice care

Late Monday night, the Charleston mayor’s office announced the death of police chief Luther Reynolds.

The 56-year-old Reynolds died after a long battle with cancer, the mayor’s office said in a news release.

“Tonight, Charleston has lost not just a great police chief, but one of the finest human beings that many of us will ever know. Luther Reynolds was a modern man of ancient virtues: faith, honor, courage, duty,” Mayor John Tecklenburg said in the release. “But most of all, and at his very core, Luther was a man of love. He loved his family, his friends, his life. He loved this city and the brave men and women who keep it safe. He loved God, and in faithful service, he loved his neighbor.”

Reynolds died less than a week after publicly announcing he was ending chemotherapy and entering hospice care.

At 8:10 p.m., Reynolds died at a Charleston area hospice facility with his wife, Caroline, and his two children, Luke and Grace, by his side, according to the release.

When Reynolds announced he was entering hospice care, he released a statement that said “Five years ago, you welcomed me and my family into this remarkable city, and with your support, we have built an even better, even stronger police department. I cannot tell you how proud I am of the men and women of CPD, and how honored I am to have led them.”

In Reynolds’ absence, three deputy chiefs are leading the police department for the immediate future, city spokesperson Jack O’Toole said. The deputy chiefs are in the roles they held during Reynold’s periods of absence since he first announced his cancer diagnosis in November 2021.

At the time he announced he was entering a “rigorous” treatment program to address the sarcoma, a malignant tumor, growing in his pelvis. In February, 2022, Reynolds underwent a two-day surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to remove his right leg, hip and part of his pelvis, the Post and Courier.

Following the surgery, Reynolds learned to walk with an advanced prosthetic and re-learned how to drive a converted police cruiser. The department and Charleston community rallied around Reynolds — his SWAT team shaved their heads in solidarity with their chief’s diagnosis.

Since announcing his diagnosis Reynolds had become an advocate for those battling cancer and urged people not to suffer in silence.

Reynolds was named chief of one of South Carolina’s largest police departments in 2018. Prior to arriving in Charleston, Reynolds had a 30-year career in law enforcement and was the assistant chief for Montgomery County Police Department, covering an area just outside of Washington, D.C.

Information on funeral arrangements has not been released, but Tecklenburg said Charleston will honor Reynolds.

“Over the coming days, we will mourn Luther Reynolds, for we loved him as much as he loved us,” Tecklenburg said. “But even today, as our hearts are breaking, we can take solace in knowing that with Luther’s final journey now complete, his weary days of pain have passed, and his timeless days of peace have just begun.”

When a memorial is held, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster ordered that flags at the State House to fly at half staff to honor Reynolds’ legacy.

“Join me in praying for the family of Police Chief Luther Reynolds, a humble and selfless public servant who led with faith and represented the best of South Carolina,” McMaster said on Twitter.

Reynolds was honored Tuesday at the State House.

“May God bless Chief Reynolds’ family,” S.C. Sen. Marlon Kimpson said while standing with fellow S.C. Sen. Sandy Senn. “His legacy will live on. His creed will live on.”