FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2009
CONTACT:
Your local CRO, 803-896-8144
DPS RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING
TROOPERS FOR 2008
COLUMBIA
– The South Carolina Department of Public Safety Director Mark Keel and Highway
Patrol Col. Kenny Lancaster Jr. presented awards on June 16 to
troopers and
telecommunications’
officers from around the state for their exceptional service in
2008 as well as the Director’s Award for Valor.
The Trooper of the Year for
2008 is
Senior Trooper
Wilson Owens Horton Jr. (Post A, Sumter/Clarendon counties). He
is a native of Lake City,
SC, where he currently resides.
Horton graduated East Clarendon High School
in 1992. He graduated from Florence-Darlington Technical College in 1994 and Patrol School in 2005. Horton served in the
United Sates Navy from 1992 – 1996. He also served with the Olanta Police
Department prior to joining the Highway Patrol. He and his wife, Tammy, have two
children, Tyler and Logan. He was named Trooper of The Year for Post A for the
past two years. Senior Trooper Horton and his family attend The Barrineau
Pentecostal Holiness Church were they are active members. (see attachment for
further information)
“We believe S/Tpr. Horton embodies the
characteristics of an all-around outstanding trooper,” said Highway Patrol Col.
Kenny Lancaster Jr. “He believes strongly in serving others – both in his
personal and professional lives. We have received very positive comments from
the public about the compassionate and caring manner in which he has conducted
his collision investigations. We believe he sets an outstanding example for
other troopers to follow.”
Director’s Award for Valor:
SCHP
Cpl. Q.M. Brown, Troop Seven, was
shot and wounded during a traffic stop in Orangeburg on May 4, 2008. (see
attachment Q.M. Brown for
details).
-
Troop One
Winner:
Wilson Owens Horton Jr. (see above)
-
Troop Two
Winner: Trooper First Class
Benji Wilson Humphries (Post A, Laurens, Newberry counties)
-
Troop
Three Winner:
Senior Trooper Michael D. Looney (Post A – Anderson County) (see attachment)
-
Troop
Four Winner:
Lance Corporal Joseph W. Tate (Post C: Chester/Fairfield County) (see
attachment)
-
Troop
Five Winner: Senior Trooper Clinton A. Bostic (Post
A/Darlington/Marlboro County) (see attachment)
-
Troop
Six Winner: Lance Corporal Steve P. Grainger (Post A--
Berkeley/Charleston County) (see attachment)
-
Troop
Seven Winner: Trooper Shawn R. Hallingquest (Post B –
Calhoun/Orangeburg County) (see attachment)
-
Troop
Eight Winner: Corporal Jeffrey S. Arledge (Motor Unit)
(see attachment)
-
Troop
Nine (MAIT Unit) Winner: Lance Corporal James F. Brown
(Foothills MAIT) (see attachment)
-
Troop 11
(Highway Patrol Headquarters) Winner: Sergeant Edward J.
Talbot Jr. (Training) (see attachment)
Telecommunications’ Winners:
-
Blythewood
Telecommunications:
TCO Cherie
Young
TCO II
Shatara L. Hilton
TCO Kay J.
Knotts
TCO Paula
Morgan
-
TCO of the Year -- Greenville
TCC
TCO Iris
Stroble
Trooper of the year Winners
Q.M. Brown
.JPG)
Group photo left to right:
Troop 3: Looney; Troop 2:
Humphries; Troop 7: Hallingquest; Troop 5: Bostic; Troop 6: Grainger; Troop 1:
Horton; Troop 9: Brown; Troop 4: Tate; Troop 11: Talbot; Troop 8: Arledge