A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR Connie L. Billings, Captain of the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department, UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AFTER twenty-one YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE in law enforcement, AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives have learned that Captain Connie L. Billings will begin a well-deserved retirement on September 18, 2023, after twenty-one years as a highly-regarded law enforcement officer, the last of which have been as the distinguished captain of the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department; and

Whereas, born and reared in Lexington County, she graduated from Lexington High School, and in the proud traditions of South Carolina, she served her country with distinction in the United States Navy.  After completing basic training and additional specialized training in 1987, she was assigned to various duty stations both overseas and within the United States; and

Whereas, while serving in the United States Navy, she completed law enforcement training and served in that capacity until the end of her enlistment in 1995 at the rank of Petty Officer Second Class; and

Whereas, Captain Billings pursued a professional education, attending numerous advanced courses primarily through the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, with concentration in the field of investigations, along with other disciplines; and

Whereas, she began her law enforcement career in South Carolina with the West Columbia Police Department in 2000, then later continued to serve the Midlands of South Carolina with the Cayce Department of Public Safety and with the 11th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office; and

Whereas, on August 20, 2012, Captain Billings began serving with the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department as a patrol officer and quickly navigated her way through the ranks of the department with dedicated service to the community and her keen talents to the rank of Captain, the first female officer in the history of the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department to attain the rank of Captain; and

Whereas, just two years later, Captain Billings was recognized by the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department as its Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for 2014, and a year later, she was also recognized by Dickerson Children's Advocacy Center as the Lexington County Multidisciplinary Team Member of the Year for 2015; and

Whereas, in her role as Captain, she has served in an administrative command staff position with a focus on various specialized duties for the agency, which includes serving as the department's public information officer, as the grant writer and manager, as a criminal-case manager, and in a variety of other administrative duties, in addition to her primary role as a law enforcement commander; and

Whereas, Captain Billings lives with her husband, John, in the Monetta area of Saluda County, and they plan to spend many happy hours of retirement together; and

Whereas, grateful for her years of distinguished service to the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department, the South Carolina House of Representatives takes great pleasure in extending best wishes to Connie Billings as she transitions to a richly deserved retirement and the unhurried pace of the days ahead, and the members wish her many years of enjoyment in her well earned retirement.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Connie L. Billings, Captain of the Batesburg-Leesville Police Department, upon the occasion of her retirement after twenty-one years of exemplary service in law enforcement, and wish her continued success and happiness in all her future endeavors.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Captain Connie L. Billings.

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