FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 19, 2001

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

L/CPL. MICHAEL TOMSON RECEIVES DPS DIRECTOR’S AWARD, DISTRICT SEVEN TROOPER OF THE YEAR

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety today presented L/Cpl. Michael Tomson with the Director’s Award for Exceptional Service at the annual Employee Recognition Ceremony. This is the highest award granted by the Department of Public Safety. Tomson also was chosen as Highway Patrol District Seven Trooper of the Year.

Tomson has been with the Highway Patrol since 1989 when he was initially assigned to Lee County. He transferred to Lexington County in 1992 and to District Seven in 1997 assigned to his home county of Orangeburg. Tomson is currently in the top five percent of district troopers in DUI enforcement. In 1998, he received the MADD South Carolina Award for top DUI enforcement in District Seven. In 1999, he received the Highway Patrol ACE Team’s award for top drug enforcement trooper in District Seven.

"L/Cpl. Tomson is highly dedicated to his work as a trooper," said DPS Director B. Boykin Rose. "He maintains a solid and consistent record in his general enforcement duties and is particularly effective in DUI and drug enforcement."

Two incidents this past year further distinguished Tomson as an outstanding law enforcement officer. On April 5 around 11 p.m., he had stopped at a convenience store to refuel. Inside the store, a young man fired a 9-mm handgun. The two clerks were shielded by bulletproof glass and not hurt. One clerk had called the Orangeburg Sheriff’s Office, who had sent a deputy. When the gunman ran from the store, the deputy and Tomson ran after him on foot. Tomson repeatedly yelled for the man to drop his weapon. The man raised his weapon and Tomson fired at him, hitting him four times. The shots were not fatal and the young man is recovering.

On July 31 around 12:35 a.m., Tomson had completed his shift and was on his way home when he met a vehicle running at a high rate of speed without his lights on. Tomson pursued him and the driver wrecked his car and fled into the darkness. The suspect was soon located. The officers found a shotgun in his car when they conducted the search. Officers discovered that shortly before the stop, he had broken into a motel room in Orangeburg, robbed an elderly couple, shot the man in the face and stole the couple’s car.

"Tomson’s instincts and quick thinking took some dangerous criminals off our highways this year. He is an example for every Highway Patrol trooper to follow," said Highway Patrol Col. Ralph Mobley.

Tomson, a native of Sumter, graduated from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College in 1988. He and his wife, Melissa Ann, have one son, Michael David II, 2.

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