A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR the members OF THE spartanburg COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE swat team involved in the july 7, 2021, shooting incident in spartanburg AND TO CONGRATULATE them ON BEING AWARDED THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION MEDAL OF VALOR.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team involved in the July 7, 2021, shooting incident in Spartanburg were awarded the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Medal of Valor on January 26, 2023; and

Whereas, the award is presented annually to law enforcement officers who perform actions above and beyond the call of duty; exhibit exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, and presence of mind; or act with unusual swiftness, regardless of personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life; and

Whereas, on July 7, 2021, the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team was prepared to assist its Narcotics Unit with a search warrant in the City of Spartanburg and had just finished a briefing. Just then, officers heard over the radio that Spartanburg City Police were responding to a shooting and that shots had been fired with an officer down. Team members were alerted to prepare for an officer-down rescue; and

Whereas, SWAT responded to the location within the city limits of Spartanburg. When officers arrived on the scene, they found that the downed officer had been extradited to the hospital. As the incident progressed, gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and members of the SWAT Team, which ended after the suspect was killed inside the home. During the encounter, the team, having breached the home, was able to rescue and treat a woman who had been shot and held there against her will; and

Whereas, SWAT Team members who assisted with the incident are First Lieutenant Steve Henderson, Lieutenant Anthony Hawkins, Lieutenant Mark Freeman, Lieutenant Michael Longshore, Lieutenant William Hopkins, Lieutenant Robert Taylor III, Sergeant Zach Featherston, Sergeant Kyle Jurek, Sergeant Wesley Bennet, Master Deputy Trevor Shue, Investigator Jason Kramer, Investigator Dalton Crow, Master Deputy Sean Biggs, and Master Deputy Jacob Shields; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciate the courage and dedication of law enforcement officers like these fine men who put their lives on the line every day and who provide safety and security to protect the citizens of our great State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the members of the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team involved in the July 7, 2021, shooting incident in Spartanburg and congratulate them on being awarded the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Medal of Valor.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to First Lieutenant Steve Henderson, Lieutenant Anthony Hawkins, Lieutenant Mark Freeman, Lieutenant Michael Longshore, Lieutenant William Hopkins, Lieutenant Robert Taylor III, Sergeant Zach Featherston, Sergeant Kyle Jurek, Sergeant Wesley Bennet, Master Deputy Trevor Shue, Investigator Jason Kramer, Investigator Dalton Crow, Master Deputy Sean Biggs, and Master Deputy Jacob Shields.

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