Senior Trooper Darren Wilson considered his boss Sgt. James Sinkler a mentor.

“He’s always been my idol.”

Now Sinkler looks up to Wilson.

“Only because he’s shorter,” Wilson joked Tuesday, three days after winning a national award for saving Sinkler’s life during a Kershaw County traffic stop.

Wilson, 34, of Clarendon County, was named National 2004 Trooper of the Year by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Division of State and Provincial Police. This is the first time an S.C. trooper has won the award.

The married father of five girls was cited for the heroism he showed Dec. 27, 2003, after a shootout with a drunken driver who had wounded Sinkler.

Sinkler, 40, now a first sergeant, had stopped a man who had almost collided with him. The man shot Sinkler in the left thumb and fired a bullet into his bulletproof vest.

Wilson, who was patrolling a mile away, showed up at the scene and shot the man five times as Sinkler hid in the darkness, not making a sound.

“As bad as my chest and my hand hurt, I was keeping my mouth closed,” Sinkler said.

Wilson, who has been with the Highway Patrol for three years, took the man’s gun and found Sinkler, comforting him until medical help arrived. The shooter survived and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

“I’m doing pretty good. I still don’t have the full use of the thumb,” Sinkler said, who has been back at work for almost a year.

Before winning the national honor, Wilson’s valor in this situation was recognized by awards in his district, state and region.

“If anybody gets it, it should be him. He came out there to protect me and save me and to keep that guy from harming anyone else. I’m happy for him. ... He did an outstanding job,” Sinkler said.

Wilson received his award during a two-week break from his duty in Iraq as an Army National Guard member.

His deployment began in September, and he said he hopes to be home for good in September.

“I’m putting on that military uniform, then I’m going to get back over here and put on my Highway Patrol uniform. I love it.”

Reach Leach at (803) 771-8549 or leleach@thestate.com.