FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 22, 2005

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8409

OR L/CPL. JOSEF ROBINSON, 803-737-8374

 

SENIOR TROOPER DARREN WILSON AWARDED NATIONAL TROOPER

OF THE YEAR FOR HEROIC EFFORTS IN SINKLER SHOOTING

 

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces that Senior Trooper Darren Wilson was awarded National 2004 Trooper of the Year by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Division of State and Provincial Police, at their mid-year conference this past weekend in Alexandria, Virginia.

 

“I am very proud of Trooper Wilson. This is the first time in the Highway Patrol’s 75^-year history that a South Carolina trooper has received this prestigious award,” said Highway Patrol Colonel Russell F. Roark. “Trooper Wilson’s actions in December 2003 were selfless and heroic and no doubt saved Sgt. Sinkler’s life and his own. We look forward to Trooper Wilson’s return to duty following his military assignment in Iraq.”

 

Wilson is serving as a staff sergeant for the South Carolina National Guard with a current assignment to the United States Army serving in Iraq. Wilson was back in the states on military assignment and was given the opportunity by the military to attend the ceremony.

 

Wilson had been chosen by IACP as Trooper of the Year for the Southern Region. At the conference, Wilson was chosen from among three other candidates representing the North Atlantic Region, North Central Region and Mountain Pacific Region as the winner of the national award for his heroism in December 2003. 

 

Senior Trooper Wilson and Sgt. James Sinkler were patrolling in rural Kershaw County at night in December 2003, on Springvale Road. Sinkler had stopped a suspect for speeding. When he approached the vehicle, the suspect opened fire hitting him several times in the bullet-proof vest and once in the hand. Sinkler fled to his Patrol vehicle and was able to call for back-up. He then took cover in the dark as the suspect left his vehicle and begin to search for Sinkler.

 

Trooper Wilson was only a mile from Sinkler when he heard an urgent radio broadcast from Sinkler and responded immediately to assist him. Shortly after arriving on the scene, Wilson was confronted by an armed suspect. Senior Trooper Wilson fired at the suspect several times, wounding him. He was then able to disarm the suspect. As soon as the scene was secured, he turned his attention to Sinkler and assisted him until medical help arrived. 

 

Senior Trooper Wilson began his law enforcement career with the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office in 1997. He joined the Highway Patrol in April 2002.   

 

Wilson has five children, and he and his wife Flury reside in Clarendon County.