TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LIEUTENANT JOHNNY (JOLLY) HICKS OF THE FLORENCE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE UPON RECEIVING THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION MEDAL OF VALOR.

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is pleased to salute the heroic service of law enforcement officers like Lieutenant Johnny (Jolly) Hicks who put the safety of their fellow citizens above their own; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Medal of Valor is awarded to any deputy sheriff who performs actions above and beyond the call of duty; who exhibits exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, and presence of mind; or who performs with an unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life; and

Whereas, on September 17, 2021, Lieutenant Hicks was on patrol in Florence County when a Lake City Police officer was struck and killed during a vehicle pursuit in the city of Lake City; and

Whereas, shortly after this incident, a carjacking occurred nearby on Frierson Road in Lake City where the suspect forcibly entered an occupied vehicle and instructed the victim to drive away. The victim was subsequently pushed out of the vehicle, and the suspect drove the vehicle away. The victim sustained minor injuries during this incident; and

Whereas, immediately thereafter, Central Dispatch sent a description of the stolen vehicle to all Florence County law enforcement. A short time later Lieutenant Hicks spotted a vehicle matching the description near Olanta and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop and led Lieutenant Hicks on a vehicle pursuit near the town of Olanta; and

Whereas, at one point the suspect got out of the vehicle, and Lieutenant Hicks continued his pursuit on foot. The suspect then reentered the vehicle, and Lieutenant Hicks followed, resuming the vehicle pursuit; and

Whereas, while on Center Road, a rural straight stretch of road leading back into Olanta, Lieutenant Hicks initiated a perfect pursuit intervention technique (PIT) which forced the suspect vehicle into a ditch, ending the pursuit. Lieutenant Hicks then alighted from his patrol vehicle and placed the suspect driver under arrest. Lieutenant Hicks was transported from the scene to an area hospital where he received medical treatment for injuries sustained in the incident; and

Whereas, the suspect, already wanted by the Florence County Sheriff's Office on a domestic violence charge, was later charged by SLED with the death of the Lake City Police Officer. He was also charged with Carjacking and Failure to Stop for Blue Light; and

Whereas, Lieutenant Hicks, a twenty-seven-year veteran of the Florence County Sheriff's Office exhibited exemplary bravery and expert application of the PIT maneuver to prevent a violent suspect from escaping or from further harming the citizens of Florence County; and

Whereas, grateful for his exceptional courage on behalf of the citizens of the Florence County, the General Assembly takes great pleasure in applauding the heroic actions of Lieutenant Hicks. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Lieutenant Johnny (Jolly) Hicks of the Florence County Sheriff's Office upon receiving the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Medal of Valor.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Lieutenant Johnny (Jolly) Hicks.