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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR CHIEF DEPUTY TOBY HORNE AND LIEUTENANT DONOVAN SHEALY OF THE SALUDA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SPECIAL AGENT RUSS PADGETT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION (SLED) FOR EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE IN THE FACE OF DANGER WHILE IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM UPON RECEIVING THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION 2019 MEDAL OF VALOR AWARD.
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Chief Deputy Toby Horne and Lieutenant Donovan Shealy of the Saluda County Sheriff's Office and Special Agent Russ Padgett with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) 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 or a law enforcement officer from another agency whose service is in connection with a deputy sheriff. The recipient of the award will have performed actions above and beyond the call of duty; exhibited exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, and presence of mind; or acted 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 April 5, 2019, officers with the Saluda County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residential fire with several people still inside the residence in the Batesburg Area of Saluda County. Lieutenant Shealy, the first officer on scene, attempted to get inside the residence, but the front door was locked and the back door was consumed by fire; and
Whereas, Lieutenant Shealy then attempted to get the occupants to the door or a window at the front of the house in order to remove them safely, but communication with the occupants had stopped as the Saluda County Fire Units and Special Agent Padgett, along with Chief Horne and other responders arrived on scene; and
Whereas, fire units were able to open the front door, and Special Agent Padgett, without fear for his safety and without personal protective gear, entered the residence to help pull one of the occupants out of the burning residence; and
Whereas, Chief Horne, without fear and due diligence, donned an air pack and entered the residence to locate the infant in an upstairs bedroom consumed by heavy smoke; and
Whereas, Lieutenant Shealy, without fear for his safety, was helping to remove the occupants out of the residence and physically insuring the safety of the four-year-old occupant who was attempting to reenter the residence; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is honored to recognize the heroism and determination of law enforcement officers and first responders like Chief Horne, Lieutenant Shealy, and Special Agent Padgett 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 Chief Deputy Toby Horne and Lieutenant Donovan Shealy of the Saluda County Sheriff's Office and Special Agent Russ Padgett with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for exceptional courage in the face of danger while in the line of duty and congratulate them 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 Chief Deputy Toby Horne, Lieutenant Donovan Shealy, and Special Agent Russ Padgett.
This web page was last updated on January 15, 2020 at 3:20 PM