A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR MASTER DEPUTY ALFRED J. DOCTOR OF THE LEE 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 2023 MEDAL OF VALOR AWARD.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is pleased to learn that Master Deputy Alfred J. Doctor will be awarded the esteemed South Carolina Sheriffs' Association 2023 Medal of Valor Award during the association's Medal of Valor Awards 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 Medal of Valor Awards Ceremony where they are presented with the medal; and

 

Whereas, on November 2, 2023, Deputy Doctor was dispatched to a residence in Lee County in reference to a stolen vehicle.  When Deputy Doctor arrived, he met with a complainant who stated that someone had stolen her vehicle and that her cousin had taken her truck.  Other family members residing in the residence stated the complainant was having some mental issues.  Her sister advised Deputy Doctor that she was depressed after their mother's hospitalization and her father's death; and

 

Whereas, the complainant's sister and brother informed Deputy Doctor that the vehicle was not stolen, and she probably had parked it somewhere down the road and did not remember where it was.  The complainant then came to the back porch where they were talking and got upset because Deputy Doctor was talking to them.  The complainant then walked over to him and grabbed and pushed him; and

 

Whereas, Deputy Doctor told her she needed to stop, and he continued to talk with her brother while the complainant went back into the house and shut the door.  After Deputy Doctor finished interviewing her brother, he entered the residence, along with her brother, and knocked on the complainant's bedroom door.  He heard her speaking loudly as if she were praying, calling out the Lord's name. The complainant opened the door and started shooting in his direction; and

 

Whereas, Deputy Doctor dove to the kitchen floor and started crawling out of the house to his patrol vehicle where he called on his radio for assistance.  He then reentered the residence with his weapon drawn and located other family members inside the residence who he knew to be in danger; and

 

Whereas, when he located the offender, he ordered her to the floor, which she refused to do.  He demanded that she show him her hands and raise them above her head.  When he asked her where the gun was located, she replied, "What gun?" Deputy Doctor then holstered his weapon, placed the suspect on the bed to handcuff her, escorted her outside, and placed her in his vehicle's backseat; and

 

Whereas, when Deputy Doctor then reentered the residence, he realized she had shot her brother in his face and he was bleeding heavily though he was conscious, alert, and walking around the house.  Deputy Doctor then advised dispatch that the brother had been shot in the face, and he needed EMS.  After more investigation, the sister's vehicle was found wrecked down the road from the residence; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is honored to recognize the heroism and determination of law enforcement officers and first responders like Alfred Doctor 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 Master Deputy Alfred J. Doctor of the Lee 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 2023 Medal of Valor Award.

 

Be it further resolved that the copy of this resolution be presented to Master Deputy Alfred J. Doctor.

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