Four South Carolina law enforcement officers were recently honored at the 43rd annual Strom Thurmond Awards for Excellence in Law Enforcement Luncheon, including Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis.
The awards are presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee, along with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association (SCLEOA) and the Strom Thurmond Foundation.
“In South Carolina, we proudly stand with the men and women of law enforcement who work every day to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling. “These awards reflect our deep appreciation for their dedication and sacrifice. We’re grateful to partner with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association and the Strom Thurmond Foundation to recognize these outstanding public servants.”
The 2026 honorees are:
City – Chief Chris Watts, Rock Hill Police Department
County – Sheriff Hobart Lewis, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office
State – Major Mayrant Jones Gamble, South Carolina Highway Patrol
Federal – Special Agent Craig Januchowski, FBI Columbia Field Office
The Strom Thurmond Awards for Excellence in Law Enforcement were established by former Senator Strom Thurmond in 1983 to recognize law enforcement officers whose performances demonstrate the highest ideals of excellence in professional law enforcement. An annual award is given in each of the four categories: (1) city/municipal; (2) county; (3) state; and (4) federal.
An awards committee composed of representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Strom Thurmond Foundation, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, the South Carolina Police Chiefs’ Association, SCLEOA, and past recipients selects the winners from nominations received from across the state.
