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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR DEPUTY DUSTIN MORRIS OF THE BERKELEY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE IN THE FACE OF DANGER WHILE IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM UPON RECEIVING THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION 2019 MEDAL OF VALOR AWARD.
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Deputy Dustin Morris will be awarded the esteemed South Carolina Sheriffs' Association 2019 Medal of Valor Award during the association's Winter Conference Awards Banquet in Columbia on January 23, 2020; and
Whereas, the Medal of Valor Award is presented to a deputy sheriff who performs actions above and beyond the call of duty; exhibits exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, and presence of mind; or acts with unusual swiftness, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life; and
Whereas, nominations made by the sheriff are presented to a standing committee of sheriffs who evaluate the nominations, and recipients are invited to the Winter Conference where they are presented with the medal at the Awards Banquet; and
Whereas, on February 26, 2019, Deputy Dustin Morris responded to a call for service regarding speeding in Huger, an area in rural Berkeley County; and
Whereas, upon making contact with the driver, Deputy Morris came under gun fire and a thirty-minute gunfight ensued between the suspect and Deputy Morris, who took cover in the small space behind his Ford Explorer sheriff's vehicle while deputies from the Berkeley County Special Response Team raced to the scene; and
Whereas, even though he was pinned down, Deputy Morris managed to exchange gunfire with the suspect who used a wide variety of firearms, including a high-powered rifle and handguns, to fire multiple rounds at the deputy at close range, some fifty feet away; and
Whereas, while the suspect repeatedly yelled that he was going to finish the deputy off, Deputy Morris remained calm and attempted to end the incident peacefully. The suspect almost surrendered but then refused; and
Whereas, the suspect also fired on additional law enforcement officers who responded to the scene, but no deputies or officers were injured. Deputies eventually shot and killed the suspect; and
Whereas, dozens of units responded, including the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, the Moncks Corner Police Department, as well as federal agencies and others; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is honored to recognize the heroism and determination of law enforcement officers and first responders like Deputy Morris who protect and defend our citizens, putting the safety of others above their own personal safety. 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 Deputy Dustin Morris of the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office for exceptional courage in the face of danger while in the line of duty and congratulate him upon receiving the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association 2019 Medal of Valor Award.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Deputy Dustin Morris.
This web page was last updated on January 15, 2020 at 3:17 PM