ABOUT US
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WHY
Why is the HAVEN needed?
Aren’t resources already available for law enforcement officers? The short answer is no. While numerous resources and retreat centers across the country are available for the military, there is no place designed and designated specifically for law enforcement officers. We fully support our military and other first responders, but our calling is to combat the unique circumstances inherent in the law enforcement profession.
Now more than ever, law enforcement officers face overwhelming circumstances in addition to the everyday stress and demands of their jobs. Riots, public demand for defunding or abolishment, negative media reports, and more have led to a
dramatic increase in officer suicide. In 2019, 228 officers committed suicide as compared to 147 line of duty deaths that year. Additionally, in 2019 there were
over 56,000 assaults against law enforcement officers, which translates to one assault every 9.38 minutes. In 2021, 346 law enforcement officers were shot and ambush-style attacks on officers were up 115%
from 2020.
We understand and agree that there are issues in law enforcement practices that need to be addressed. But painting every officer with the same brush does a disservice to the men and women who risk their lives daily to serve and protect.​ ​Law enforcement officers are always there to respond to calls for service. Now, The Haven is here for them whenever they need us.
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VALUES
Grace
We believe in showing favor to the unworthy, as first demonstrated by Jesus.
Community
We are committed to strengthening relationships and forging strong bonds.
Trust
We will always provide a safe space for individual vulnerability.
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MISSION
The Haven exists to rescue law enforcement officers from the daily stresses of their profession, restore relationships with their loved ones, and rebuild trust between officers and the communities they serve.
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CAMPUS
The Haven is a 32-acre private, gated retreat for active or retired law enforcement officers and their immediate families. This faith-based ministry provides temporary lodging, food services, recreation, and Christian-oriented fellowship to meet the unique needs of the law enforcement community. Centrally located in the Midlands of South Carolina, the site provides easy access to more than 270 law enforcement agencies which employ nearly 12,000 officers.
We want to break the stigma associated with psychological health, combat isolation and loneliness, address burnout and related issues, and provide a safe space to release and recharge. The Haven is just that - a safe, confidential place where officers can disconnect from daily stresses and reconnect with their Creator, their family, and their community.
Amenities
- 9-acre pond
- Walking trails
- Wooded areas
- Indoor and outdoor meeting space
- Fire pit
- Cabin for overnight stays
- Outdoor recreation (kayaks, fishing, outdoor games)
Services
- Respite weekends
- Fellowship opportunities
- Food services for individuals or groups
- Access to peer mentors and community-based health care providers
FUTURE
PLANS
Plans for growth include constructing additional cabins, building a boardwalk across the pond, and increasing recreational activities (horseshoe pit, corn hole, kayaks, fishing, gardening, etc.). Long-range goals include yoga, equine/canine therapy, and other activities.
The Haven’s name is derived from Nahum 1:7 - “The Lord is good, a HAVEN in the day of trouble; He takes care of those that trust in Him.” Here at The Haven, we strive to create a place of rest for law enforcement officers. Officers are “on duty” even when they are not in uniform. We understand the difficulty in turning off the law enforcement mindset in order to truly relax. Officers are called daily to respond to the worst situations in which people find themselves. They are expected to be marriage counselors, parenting experts, addiction specialists, and mental health professionals, all during the highest moments of crisis for the communities they serve. This takes a toll on even the toughest of human beings, and we believe that even heroes need saving from time to time.
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FOUNDERS
Kevin Caldwell
Kevin was born and raised in Lexington, SC. Prior to his law enforcement career, Kevin ran a successful landscape business for over twenty years. Kevin received a degree in Emergency Management from Columbia College, where he graduated summa cum laude. In 1999, Kevin began his law enforcement career as a dispatcher with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) and then became a trooper with the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) assigned to Lexington County. While a trooper, Kevin was a member of the Peer Support Program which offers peer-to-peer mentoring to officers struggling with any number of issues. Kevin was a founder of the C.O.P.S. (Christian Officers Professing the Savior) ministry at First Baptist Church to provide weekly meals and a supportive environment for officers and their families. Kevin also started the C.O.P.S. annual Thanksgiving meal which grew to feed approximately 150-200 law enforcement officers and their families each holiday. Kevin has also served as a leader in Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered 12-step recovery program for individuals facing substance abuse issues.
In 2008, Kevin was awarded the Ben W. Strickland Award by his peers for his outstanding service to Lexington County. The following year Kevin was selected as the 2009 SCHP State Trooper of the Year due to his work ethic and commitment to community service. In 2010, the Alston Wilkes Society selected Kevin as the 2010 SC Law Enforcement Trooper of the Year, and that same year Kevin received the Mark H. Coates Award from the SCHP for his commitment to drug interdiction. Each year from 2007 to 2011, Kevin was recognized by the SCHP for his outstanding and valuable contributions to traffic fatality reduction efforts by removing almost 300 impaired drivers from SC roadways. In 2011, Kevin was presented with the Troop One Top DUI Enforcer Award (which includes Clarendon, Sumter, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, and Richland counties) by the SCHP, and he also received the Gold Hero Award from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) for his efforts to reduce fatalities caused by impaired drivers. In 2012, Kevin left the highway patrol and became a Special Investigator with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office where he served for three years. In 2015, Kevin returned to the SCDPS where he currently serves as a Senior Investigator. In 2016, Kevin married his wife Ryanne who is also a law enforcement officer. Kevin and Ryanne are the proud parents of twins and they attend Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington.
Ryanne Caldwell
Ryanne was born and raised in North Augusta, SC. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina - Aiken. In 2001, Ryanne moved to Washington State, where she attended Seattle University School of Law in Seattle, Washington, graduating cum laude in 2007. In law school Ryanne was a member of the Christian Legal Society, Women’s Law Caucus, Black Legal Student’s Association, and volunteered her time at Rainier Elementary School. During her time in Washington state, Ryanne worked as a prosecutor in Thurston County District Court where she prosecuted misdemeanor cases for the State of Washington. Ryanne also worked in the King County Prosecutor’s Office - Most Dangerous Offender Project where she helped prepare a quadruple homicide case for a death penalty trial. Upon her return to South Carolina, Ryanne began working at the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU).
Ryanne held numerous positions in the MFCU, beginning as a law clerk and then as a data analyst reviewing Medicaid billing data. However, the position of which she is most proud is that of Special Investigator, as Ryanne was the first person from the Attorney General’s Office to attend and graduate from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Ryanne worked multi-million dollar white collar fraud cases alongside agents from the FBI and Department of Health and Human Services-OIG. After her promotion to Senior Investigator, Ryanne led patient abuse investigations of the MFCU, working all abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation cases involving vulnerable adults in facilities across South Carolina. The first conviction in the state for psychological abuse of a vulnerable adult resulted from one of Ryanne’s investigations. In 2015, Ryanne moved to the State Ethics Commission where, as Chief Investigator, she has investigated violations of campaign finance, lobbying, and code of conduct laws. In 2016, Ryanne married her hero, Kevin, who is also a law enforcement officer. Kevin and Ryanne are the proud parents of twins, and they attend Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington.
A NOTE FROM THE
FOUNDERS
We are both law enforcement officers who understand the unique circumstances that come with the law enforcement profession. Our journey to found The Haven began in 2017 when our pastor, Jeff Kersey, preached a sermon entitled “Shameless Persistence” in which he encouraged the congregation to “ask, seek, and knock” to determine the course the Lord had for their life. During the message, Kevin felt a calling from God to start a ministry for law enforcement as they deal with the stresses of their profession. At first, neither of us knew exactly what the Lord was asking, but over time the Lord revealed that the ministry would be known as The Haven from the bible verse Nahum 1:7 - “The Lord is good, a HAVEN in the day of trouble.” In the months and years that followed, the Lord continued to speak to us as He developed His plan for this ministry.
Honestly, we were not always obedient and willing participants. We both played the role of Moses, asking God if there was anyone else better suited to do this ministry; however, we both distinctly felt God’s resounding answer to that question was no. By reminding us of our unique gifts of hospitality, service to others, and love for our family in blue, God clearly revealed his plans for The Haven as a law enforcement retreat. We shared this calling in early 2020 with Pastor Jeff, who encouraged us to pursue the ministry.
Unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic struck shortly after and plans temporarily slowed. We waited, prayed, and anxiously watched our brothers and sisters in blue come under attack across the nation. The Lord clearly impressed on our hearts an urgency to launch The Haven, and we stepped out in faith. Immediately, God began opening the doors upon which we knocked. In a few short weeks, what was once an impression on our hearts is now moving at seemingly lightning speed toward the opening of The Haven.
We hope to rescue law enforcement officers from the daily stresses of their profession, set them on the path to restore relationships with their loved ones, and rebuild trust between officers and the communities they serve. We want to break the stigma associated with psychological health for law enforcement officers, combat isolation/loneliness, address burnout, and provide a safe space to release emotional baggage from their career. We are truly in awe of what God has accomplished in so short a time. We cannot wait to see what the Lord has planned next for The Haven, and we humbly ask you to consider joining us in supporting the men and women who serve and protect us. The law enforcement profession can take a toll on even the toughest of human beings, and we believe that even heroes need saving from time to time. We ask that you please prayerfully consider supporting The Haven financially. Thank you, in advance, for your prayers and support.
Be blessed!
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Team & Board of Directors
Bart McEntire grew up in Ballentine, SC and spent more than 40 years working within the law enforcement profession. Bart began his career with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department followed by 23 years as an agent with the ATF. Upon his retirement, he spent several years in the private security sector before becoming the commander of the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Unit. In January 2022, he stepped down as the commander of the unit to focus on family. Bart is happily married to Lisa Snelgrove, and has been blessed with two wonderful children, their spouses, and a granddaughter. Currently, he resides in Lexington and serves as a member of Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church’s Safety Committee.
Personal Note: I know first-hand the struggles a law enforcement career brings to those serving on the front lines. The turning point for me occurred on April 16, 2007, as I oversaw the investigation of the Virginia Tech mass murder of 32 students and teachers. Witnessing and experiencing this event profoundly changed everyone involved, yet there was no real outlet for any of us to share the experiences, work through our emotions, or seek support. I found comfort by spending hours alone sitting in a pew in St. Mark’s Methodist Church in Roanoke, Virginia. Having a place like The Haven will provide a much-needed level of emotional support to serve our profession, in turn enabling officers to better serve their communities.
Robert McLeod Jr. was born and raised in the small town of McBee, SC. Throughout his childhood, Robert worked alongside his father at their family owned business, Arrowhead Peach Farms. He went on to graduate from Hartsville High School and later received his bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from N.C. State University.
In 1986, he decided to follow his calling and left Arrowhead Peach Farm to form Heritage Landscape Services. HLS is a commercial landscaping company that provides maintenance and installation services to businesses throughout the Midlands. Upon establishing HLS, Robert has continued to promote the landscape industry and even served as the President of the Greater Columbia Landscape Association (GCLA) for several terms.
Robert is happily married to Deborah McLeod and together they have 3 children and 9 grandchildren. Robert and Debbie are members of Roundhill Baptist Church in Lexington, SC. Robert also serves as a group leader in the General Gathering - a local Christian Men’s Group.
A personal note from Robert: I was immediately drawn to The Haven ministry when I first heard its mission. I believe there is a great need to support law enforcement through this type of program and I look forward to serving in any capacity.
Jennifer Jones is currently a Literacy Coach for Pleasant Hill Elementary School in Lexington, SC. She holds a Masters in Elementary Education, is National Board Certified, and is a South Carolina Mentor Trainer. Formerly a Math Coach and 3rd/4th grade teacher, Jennifer enjoys working with teachers and students from 4K to 5th grade. She has volunteered with several organizations including Samaritan's Purse, Palmetto Children's Place, Buddy Walk, and BSA Scouts. She is a mother of two teenagers and enjoys traveling with her family.
A personal note from Jennifer: I understand the critical importance The Haven will hold for police across the state, as my husband has had a career in law enforcement for over 20 years. Joshua 24:15 was written over the door frame of our home as it was built and it is a daily reminder to seek Him and His purpose for my life. I am honored to be called to serve the Lord through The Haven's ministry.
Marilyn was born and raised on a dairy farm in northern Georgia. After high school, Marilyn attended and graduated from nursing school.
Marilyn worked in the medical profession for 24 years, and then retired to work with her husband Roger, in his financial planning practice. In February 2021, Marilyn and Roger will celebrate 50 years of marriage. They have 5 children and 9 grandchildren, who are their greatest blessings! Marilyn has served as treasurer for several political campaigns in Lexington County. Marilyn is a member of Gantt Street Baptist Church where she sings in the choir. Marilyn has also participated in the Rock of Ages women’s prison ministry for three years.
A personal note from Marilyn: I count it a great honor to be a part of The Haven ministry. Law enforcement has always had a special place in our hearts since our son and daughter-in-law are officers. I am looking forward to exciting things ahead!
Brent was born and raised in Winnsboro, SC where he worked with his father in his family’s restaurant throughout Brent’s teenage years. Brent graduated from Richard Winn Academy, attended the University of South Carolina, and received an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Brent later attended Ashworth College and earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
In 2000, Brent began his law enforcement career with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office. In 2007, Brent joined the South Carolina Highway Patrol with Kershaw and Lee counties as his duty station. Brent joined SCHP’s Community Relations Unit in 2011, and in 2013 he accepted a position in the Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs where he currently serves today.
Brent is happily married to his awesome wife Lisa, and they have been blessed by the grace of God with three beautiful and amazing daughters. Brent and Lisa are members of Harvest Baptist Church in Lugoff, SC, where they are active with Sunday school, AWANA, Upward, and the choir. Brent also serves as a trustee for the church. Brent and Lisa have true servants’ hearts and are willing to help anywhere in the church when needed.
A personal note from Brent: Lisa and I had been talking recently and she told me that God had a plan for me. It was not long after that when Kevin reached out and shared with me about the mission of The Haven. God has opened this door of opportunity for me to serve my fellow law enforcement officers and I am honored to be a part of His work and the work of The Haven. My life purpose is to love and honor God, serve others, and have fun on my journey through life.
Betsy Pike Goodman was born in Lexington, SC and recently retired from teaching after thirty-eight years of service. Betsy was a gifted and talented teacher for third, fourth, and fifth graders for the majority of her teaching career and helped open two Lexington District One schools, Midway Elementary and Pleasant Hill Elementary. She was a teacher of the year in multiple schools during her career and was selected as Lexington District One Teacher of the Year in 2009 where she chaired the Teacher Forum for the district. Betsy LOVED working with the delightful children of Lexington and the wonderful staff around the district.
Betsy is the youngest sister of the “Pike Girls.” She and her sisters enjoy traveling together; a tradition her parents started over forty-five years ago with annual Edisto Island trips. Betsy is a member of Boiling Springs Methodist Church where she has served on various committees.
A personal note from Betsy: The mission of The Haven is critical; we MUST rescue the officers that rescue us. Each law officer’s job is essential to each of our well being. I believe The Haven is the next chapter of my life, and I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve in any capacity.
IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter

The Haven is deemed a charitable organization by the IRS code described in Section 501(c)(3). All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.