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South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

2025 Governor’s Officer of the Year Winners

May 20, 2026 by John Blackmon

South Carolina law enforcement officers from agencies across the state were recognized Tuesday during the fourth annual Governor’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Ceremony in Columbia.

Governor Henry McMaster honored three officers as the 2025 statewide winners in the State, County, and Municipal categories. Each recipient received a $10,000 award as part of the Governor’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award program.

The 2025 winners are:

Lieutenant Jamie Shaw
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division

State Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

Lieutenant Jamie Shaw
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division

Lieutenant John “Alex” Clark
York County Sheriff’s Office

County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

Lieutenant John “Alex” Clark
York County Sheriff’s Office

Municipal Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

Sergeant Christopher Bellamy
North Myrtle Beach Police Department

The annual program recognizes law enforcement professionals who demonstrate exceptional professionalism, dedication to duty, community service, valor, and innovation in the profession.

South Carolina is fortunate to have the best law enforcement officers in the country.

Governor Henry McMaster

“South Carolina is fortunate to have the best law enforcement officers in the country. Their work is essential to keeping our communities safe and too often goes unrecognized,” Governor Henry McMaster said. “This ceremony gives us the opportunity to honor the hard work they do every day to serve the people of our state with bravery and integrity.”

Governor Henry McMaster

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety administers the award program through an advisory committee composed of law enforcement leaders appointed by Governor McMaster. The committee reviews nominations submitted by South Carolina law enforcement associations and selects one overall winner in each category.

The South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police is honored to serve as part of the selection process recognizing officers whose service reflects the highest standards of professionalism and commitment to their communities.

Eleven finalists from agencies across South Carolina were selected for recognition during this year’s ceremony.

State Finalists

  • Lieutenant Jamie Shaw, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
  • Private First Class Justin “Tyler” Urquhart, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
  • Lance Corporal Richard Lee, South Carolina Highway Patrol

County Finalists

  • Deputy First Class William “Hunter” Brown, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office
  • Lieutenant John “Alex” Clark, York County Sheriff’s Office
  • Lieutenant Corinthian Green, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office
  • Deputy II Lisandra Piercey, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office
  • Patrolman First Class Kenneth Spears, Horry County Police Department

Municipal Finalists

  • Sergeant Christopher Bellamy, North Myrtle Beach Police Department
  • Sergeant Diego Lizarazo, North Charleston Police Department
  • Lance Corporal Joseph Murphy, Columbia Police Department

The Governor’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year program continues to recognize the professionalism, service, and leadership demonstrated by officers across South Carolina each day. The finalists and award recipients represent agencies and communities throughout the state and reflect the continued commitment of South Carolina law enforcement to public service and public safety.

Filed Under: SC Law Enf News

SC Fallen Officers – May 19

May 19, 2025 by John Blackmon

May 19

Today, we remember Horry County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff Timothy Eugene Causey, Whitmire Police Department Assistant Chief of Police William Earl Evans and Chief of Police Robert Rion Gilliam, Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff Charlie Albert Rodgers, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Corporal Robert D. Sadler, and South Carolina Highway Patrol Patrolman Henry C. Yonce.

On this date in 2013, Horry County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff Timothy Eugene Causey died as a result of the smoke inhalation he suffered on March 16th, 2013, after responding to a massive fire in the Windsor Green area.

On this date in 1945, Assistant Chief William Evans and Chief Robert Gilliam were shot and killed by the father of a man they had just arrested.

On this date in 1973, Deputy Sheriff Charlie Rodgers succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained several days earlier after responding to assist Greenwood Police Department officers at the scene of an active shooting at 11:38 am.

On this date in 1982, Corporal Sadler was killed in an automobile accident while returning from a call.

On this date in 1959, Patrolman Yonce died as a result of burns received in an automobile accident that occurred when his patrol car was struck by a tractor-trailer in Greenwood County.

Filed Under: Fallen Officers

SC Fallen Officers – February 26

February 26, 2025 by John Blackmon


Today, we remember South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Corporal George Don Peeler and Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (Sumter, SC) Sergeant Charles B. Kubala, Sr.

On this date in 1989, Corporal George Peeler was killed in a vehicle accident about eight miles south of Gaffney while on duty.

On this date in 1996, Sergeant Charles Kubala was shot and killed after responding to a call of a suspicious person. When he arrived at the scene, he confronted the suspect, who shot him once in the ear and once in the shoulder with a .22 caliber handgun.

Filed Under: Fallen Officers

SC Fallen Officers – January 15

January 15, 2025 by John Blackmon


Today, we remember South Carolina Highway Patrol Patrolman John Ray Riddle, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Corporal Doyle Hayes Hill, Sr., and Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Sergeant Thomas Clyde Harrison, Jr.

On this date in 1961, Patrolman John Riddle was killed in an automobile crash when his patrol car was struck by a tractor-trailer on U.S. 301 south of Manning. On this date in 1976, Corporal Doyle Hill suffered a heart attack while carrying a boat across a field in Clarendon County to rescue someone stranded because of weather conditions.

On this date in 1993, Sergeant Thomas Harrison was shot and killed at the local Belk department store inside Prince of Orange Mall at 2390 Chestnut Street NE while attempting to question three subjects who had passed forged checks.

Filed Under: Fallen Officers

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The South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge was formed in 1976. Since then, the FOP has supported and represented law enforcement officers across the state.

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