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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR PATSY RAUTON LIGHTLE OF LEXINGTON FOR THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE AS A STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION (SLED) AGENT, CHILD AND VULNERABLE-ADULT ADVOCATE, AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR, AND TO APPLAUD HER UNTIRING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF ABUSE AND THE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF LIFE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.
Whereas, with great pleasure, the South Carolina Senate honors individuals who give of their time and resources for the good of others; and
Whereas, Patsy Lightle has unceasingly served children, vulnerable adults, and elderly citizens in the Palmetto State, by combining forensic and investigative technique for the thorough and methodical investigation of abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and
Whereas, born in Augusta, Georgia, on February 25, 1954, Patsy is the daughter of loving, Christian parents, Mr. and Mrs. George William Rauton, Jr., and the sister of Dr. Bill Rauton, and she was reared and educated in Johnston, where she was active in the Head Start program and was an All-Star, All-Conference basketball player for Strom Thurmond High School; and
Whereas, she attended Columbia College in Columbia, where she was on the dean's list, served as vice president of the junior class, and started the science club at Irmo High School during her student teaching, and she is now serving on the Columbia College Advisory Board for the Criminal Justice Program; and
Whereas, continuing to excel academically at Baptist Medical Center, she graduated with honors as a medical technologist; and
Whereas, to pursue her desire to be a forensic pediatrician, she applied and was hired by SLED as a forensic analyst and crime scene investigator, now known as a CSI investigator; and
Whereas, she researched and developed the State of South Carolina Sexual Assault Kit that was subsequently adopted by the FBI as the national model; and
Whereas, she attended the FBI Academy and obtained post-graduate credit from the University of Virginia in forensics; and
Whereas, as a lieutenant, she attended the FBI Academy to study forensic DNA, researched and designed the startup of the SLED DNA laboratory, and received a national award from the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network for standardizing and coordinating the state's collection for sexual assault evidence and for her efforts in protecting the rights of crime victims; and
Whereas, in 1993, when the South Carolina Legislature created the Department of Child Fatalities, mandating a thorough investigation of unexpected and unexplained child deaths, Lieutenant Lightle was chosen to develop and lead this new unit; and
Whereas, in 2006, when the South Carolina Legislature mandated the investigation of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults, creating the SLED Vulnerable Adult Investigation Unit, the promoted Captain Lightle was again chosen to develop and lead that unit. Both units were eventually placed under the umbrella of the Special Victims Unit, ably supervised by Captain Lightle; and
Whereas, in 2006, Governor Mark Sanford awarded Captain Lightle the Order of the Palmetto in recognition of her compassion, knowledge, and skills in investigating crimes against the most vulnerable citizens in our State; and
Whereas, through her methodical and thorough investigations, her attention to details, and her service as the voice of those that cannot speak for themselves, she has transformed investigative procedures in such a way as to make a difference for those who have lost loved ones to abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and
Whereas, Patsy Lightle is the mother of two wonderful children. Her daughter, Kimberly Habben Barringer, has distinguished herself as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, and her son, William Rauton Lightle, an honors student at the University of South Carolina, plans to pursue his love of medicine by attending medical school in 2014; and
Whereas, although Captain Lightle is retiring from the routine practice of forensic science and investigations, she is not retiring from the cause of child abuse, neglect, and homicides; and
Whereas, she is continuing her deep desire to help those that cannot help themselves by working part-time at the University of South Carolina School of Law Children's Law Center; and
Whereas, she plans to enjoy the extra hours of leisure in her well-deserved retirement enjoying her family and friends and relaxing on the tennis courts and beaches of our fine State; and
Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is grateful for the lifelong service and devotion that Patsy Rauton Lightle has lavished on her family, her friends, her agents, victims of abuse, and all who have been touched by this exemplary daughter of South Carolina. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Captain Patsy Rauton Lightle of Lexington for thirty-five years of outstanding service as a State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) agent, child and vulnerable-adult advocate, and professional educator and applaud her untiring efforts to enhance the investigations and prosecution of abuse and the quality and safety of life for our most vulnerable citizens.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Captain Patsy Rauton Lightle.
This web page was last updated on April 30, 2014 at 3:56 PM