A house RESOLUTION

To congratulate and honor Master Deputy Jacob Smith of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department upon being recognized as the 2023 South Carolina Law Enforcement OFficers Association Officer of the Year.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to learn that Master Deputy Jacob Smith of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department was named as the 2023 South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association (SCLEOA) Officer of the Year; and

Whereas, Master Deputy Smith has been in law enforcement since 2017, and with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department since 2019. He is a supervisor with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department and is responsible for a patrol shift. During his time with the department he has already been awarded the Life Saving Award and South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Medal of Valor; and

Whereas, during the early morning of September 6, 2023, Master Deputy Smith responded to a home invasion call where the caller was barricaded in her son's bedroom with her son. When Master Deputy Smith arrived at the house, he heard screaming followed by the sound of gunfire. He forced entry through the front door and was immediately fired upon by the suspect, who waited from an elevated position to ambush the officers as they attempted to get to the victim and her son. Master Deputy Smith was struck by a round in his dominant arm that traveled up and through his elbow and was immediately extracted by fellow officers. Tragically, the victim was found deceased inside the house as a result of gunshot wounds, but the child that was in the house remained unharmed; and

Whereas, the suspect used the victim's car to drive through the garage door and lead the officers on a chase. The suspect fired multiple shots at the pursuing officers during the chase, but the incident came to an end when the suspect bailed out of the vehicle and continued to fire upon officers. The officers returned fire and fatally struck the suspect; and

Whereas, Master Deputy Smith's decisive and selfless actions prevented this tragic incident from becoming much worse. For this act of heroism, Major Deputy Smith is recognized as the 2023 South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association Officer of the Year; and

Whereas, grateful for Master Deputy Smith's dedicated service in protecting the citizens of this great State, the South Carolina House of Representatives salutes him on receiving this well-deserved award. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate and honor Master Deputy Jacob Smith of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department upon being recognized as the 2023 South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association Officer of the Year.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Master Deputy Jacob Smith.

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