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Press Conference: Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
Award: Remarks by Attorney General Charlie Condon
4/16/98
I'd like to welcome you this morning for what we hope will be
an annual event.
Everyone involved in planning for this occasion agreed that we
needed an award to honor line officers, the men and women
who dedicate their lives to ensure the safety of their fellow
South Carolinians. The State Chamber of Commerce agreed to
help sponsor the event and nine law enforcement organizations
offered their help.
We divided the state into four regions -- the Upstate, the Pee
Dee, the Midlands, and the Low Country -- and asked a
committee of law enforcement representatives to choose three
nominees from each region. Then a committee from the State
Chamber of Commerce selected a winner from each region
and, from among these four, a statewide winner.
As a token of appreciation, we decided to give each winner a
plaque and a vacation trip to Myrtle Beach for the entire family.
So before we begin, I'd like to recognize the people and
organizations who collaborated with my office to make this
occasion possible.
First, the representatives of the nine law enforcement
organizations who served as a nominating committee to select
three finalists from each of the state's four regions. Members
of the nominating committee included:
- Chief Robert Stewart of the State Law Enforcement
Division;
- Mr. Marion Baker, president, and Mr. Tommy
Thompson, assistant director, of the South Carolina
Law Enforcement Officers Association;
- Sheriff Samuel P. Riley, President of the South
Carolina Sheriff's Association;
- the Honorable J.C. Rowe, Mayor of the City of Forest
Acres and member of the South Carolina Police
Chiefs Association;
- First Sergeant Robert H. Rowe, immediate
past-president of the South Carolina Troopers
Association;
- Lawrence Pathel, President of the Campus Law
Enforcement Association;
- Sergeant S.R. Harper, President of the Palmetto State
Law Enforcement Officers Association;
- Mr. Linnie Hicks, South Carolina Criminal Justice
Academy, Training Division;
- and Maj. Mark Hugeley, formerly of the South
Carolina Wildlife Commission, now Assistant
S.L.E.D. Director in charge of the Criminal Justice
Information Center;
Second, I'd like to thank the South Carolina Chamber of
Commerce for its work in choosing the four regional finalists
-- and the overall winner. Mr. Hunter Howard played a key
role, as did Ms. Joyce Green. Indeed, we're grateful to all
members of the Chamber who devoted valuable time to this
project.
Third, I'd like to offer special thanks to the Myrtle Beach
Chamber of Commerce for enabling our winners and their
families to take this all-expenses-paid vacation to the Family
Fun Capital of the East Coast. I particularly want to single out
Ashby Ward, executive director of the Myrtle Beach Chamber,
who helped make this dream vacation possible for all four
honorees. In addition, I'd like to thank our other sponsors,
whose generosity has enhanced our efforts to honor these
outstanding law enforcement officers. These include:
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield, with particular thanks to Ed
Sellers;
- Bill Amick of Amick Farms;
- SCANA
- and the Liberty Life Insurance Company, with special
thanks to Hayne Hipp, Allen Chapman, Ron Lowen,
Michael Fanning, and Rick Kuppins, who is with us
today.
Finally, I'd like to welcome the law enforcement officers
attending this ceremony, and also the families of those
receiving awards. In a real sense, this occasion honors you as
well -- for the many contributions you've made to the lives and
careers of these outstanding officers. This award is an attempt,
however inadequate, to honor all those who have risked their
lives in the defense of law and community. Unfortunately, we
can't name every single officer who has stopped a speeding car
driven by an armed robber, or entered a warehouse in response
to a late-night alarm, or attempted to calm a dangerous
domestic violence scene. But in honoring these four officers
for their outstanding achievements, we intend to recognize
everyone who serves on the front line in the war against crime.
I'm pleased that we've come together for this purpose. I hope
this ceremony will express the gratitude of all the people of
South Carolina to the men and women who daily risk their
lives so we will be safer and more secure.
We're honored to have Governor David Beasley here today.
His presence reaffirms his continuing commitment to law
enforcement and to the line officers who make our state safe.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Governor Beasley.
Governor speaks.
Thank you, Gov. Beasley. And now for the awards, which
Governor Beasley will present.
The Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for the Low
Country is Robert W. Grimsley, Jr. of the Charleston County
Sheriff's Department.
The Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for the Midlands is
Malcolm H. Cameron of the Chester County Sheriff's Office.
The Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for the Pee Dee is
Gary K. Atkinson of the Sumter Police Department.
The Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for the Upstate is E.
Dewitt McCraw, Jr. of the State Law Enforcement Division.
The Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for the State of
South Carolina is E. Dewitt McCraw, Jr. of S.L.E.D.
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