COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame held an induction ceremony today to recognize 13 South Carolina law enforcement professionals for their exemplary service to the law enforcement profession.
This ceremony recognizes individuals who have a proven record of excellence in law enforcement with a meritorious achievement award and recognition in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame.
In addition to an exemplary record, nominees must also have a minimum of 25 years of law enforcement service. The nominees cannot currently be employed by a law enforcement agency or have been employed in the past five years. They may also be nominated posthumously.
Robert G. Woods IV, Director of the SC Department of Public Safety and chair of the SC Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame Advisory Committee, addressed the attendees with special remarks:
“I am honored each year to witness this ceremony, during which we rightfully induct some of the most distinguished South Carolina law enforcement officers into our prestigious Hall of Fame. Their recognition today is a fitting tribute to their extraordinary service and dedication to the law enforcement profession. We hope their legacies will inspire law enforcement professionals for generations to come.”
Representatives from the respective South Carolina law enforcement agencies presented the nominations of the inductees at the ceremony.
This year’s inductees include:
Sheriff Johnny Mack Brown - Greenville County Sheriff’s Office
Chief Lyle J. “L.J.” Campbell - Columbia Police Department
Sheriff James A. “Al” Cannon - Charleston County Sheriff’s Office
Captain Albert F. Corbin - South Carolina Highway Patrol
Sheriff Louis L. “Hector” DeBruhl - Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office
Lieutenant Lansing P. “Pete” Logan - South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
Staff Sergeant Lee M. “Skeet” Mills, Jr. - South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Staff Sergeant Francis L. Mitchum - South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Chief Robin E. Morse - Laurens and Clinton Police Departments
Chief Roger E. Poston - North Charleston and Florence Police Departments
Major Steven A. Smith, Sr. - South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
Warden Edsel T. Taylor - South Carolina Department of Corrections
Captain Russell J. Wilson - South Carolina Highway Patrol
The first ceremony recognizing officers for meritorious service was held in October 2017. Since then, 76 officers have been inducted into the SC Hall of Fame for excellence in law enforcement, including this year’s honorees.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame was created by an act of the South Carolina General Assembly in 1974. That act established the Hall of Fame’s mission as both honoring South Carolina officers who have died in the line of duty and honoring officers in the day-to-day performance of their duties. The legislation that enabled the Hall of Fame also established an advisory committee to determine who would be honored at the Hall of Fame.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame may be visited Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more - https://scdps.sc.gov/hof
