A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR Sergeant Jack Corbett, Jr., and Corporal Andrew Arledge OF THE lee COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE 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 2023 MEDAL OF VALOR AWARD.

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is pleased to learn that Sergeant Jack Corbett, Jr., and Corporal Andrew Arledge will be awarded the esteemed South Carolina Sheriffs' Association 2023 Medal of Valor Award during the association's Medal of Valor Ceremony on Thursday, January 25, 2024; 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.  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 June 18, 2023, Sergeant Corbett and Corporal Arledge were dispatched in Bishopville to an aggravated assault call.  The caller advised the dispatcher that the male suspect was armed with a shotgun and handgun, wearing a bullet proof vest and dressed in all black.  The deputies stopped up the street from the incident location to take out department-issued long guns. Sergeant Corbett took out his Remmington pump shotgun, and Corporal Arledge retrieved his Ruger AR-15 assault rifle; and

Whereas, Corporal Arledge arrived at the residence in the front yard first, and the suspect fired buckshot from a pump shotgun in the direction of his vehicle, striking the radiator and hood, and then turned the shotgun in the direction of Sergeant Corbett, striking his vehicle on the driver's side door.  The shots penetrated the driver's side door, striking Sergeant Corbett in the leg as he was existing the vehicle; and

Whereas, both deputies returned fire on the suspect, striking him several times and eliminating the threat.  They then moved in toward the suspect to make sure the scene was clear, and the suspect's girlfriend and eighteen-month-old child appeared in the doorway of the residence, screaming at the deputies and saying that they killed her husband.  Sergeant Corbett instructed Corporal Arledge to handcuff the suspect and remove the weapon from the suspect's girlfriend.  After clearing the scene, Corporal Arledge then applied a tourniquet to Sergeant Corbett's leg.  Throughout the incident, Sergeant  Corbett never lost control and stayed focused on making sure the crime scene was intact; and

Whereas, as they secured the crime scene, the original caller came to the residence and advised them that she was the one who had called in and the suspect had shot her vehicle with the shotgun on the left side front quarter panel.  The deputies took her 9mm pistol, and she was able to remove the baby from the suspect's girlfriend who continued to disobey deputy commands to move from the suspect; and

Whereas, a short time later, Bishopville Police Officer Patrolman Anthony Davis arrived on scene to assist the deputies with clearing the residence.  Corporal Arledge and Patrolman Davis physically removed the girlfriend from the suspect's body, handcuffed her, and placed her in the back of the police car.  The deputies entered the residence and cleared the house to make sure no one else was inside; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is honored to recognize the heroism and determination of law enforcement officers and first responders like Sergeant Corbett and Corporal Arledge 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, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Sergeant Jack Corbett, Jr., and Corporal Andrew Arledge of the Lee County Sheriff's Office for exceptional courage in the face of danger while in the line of duty and congratulate them upon receiving the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association 2023 Medal of Valor Award.

Be it further resolved that the copy of this resolution be presented to Sergeant Jack Corbett, Jr., and Corporal Andrew Arledge.

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