Cpl. Lucas Watts Awarded by Governor

Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Governor Henry McMaster held the second annual Governor’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Ceremony in Columbia, to publicly commend exceptional law enforcement professionals statewide.

Cpl. Lucas Watts was awarded County Law Enforcement Officer of the year and $10,000. His wife Haley received the award on his behalf.

Cpl. Watts, with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, was shot in the line of duty in November 2023 and critically injured. He was transported to a facility in Atlanta Georgia where he spent 6 months undergoing surgeries and rehabilitation. On Wednesday, May 22, 2024 community members lined up along Highway 11 in Oconee County to welcome Watts back home.

Tuesdays award ceremony included 13 finalists who were selected from the nominations of various state, county, and municipal agencies. One winner was named in each of the three categories during the ceremony and awarded $10,000 as part of the Governor’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award program, for which SC Department of Public Safety is the program administrator.

2023 GOVERNOR'S LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR WINNERS:
- State Law Enforcement Officer of the Year - Lance Corporal B.A. Frazier, South Carolina Highway Patrol Recruiting
- County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year - Corporal Lucas T. Watts, Oconee County Sheriff's Office - SC
- City Law Enforcement Officer of the Year - Patrolman First Class Jason Marzan, North Charleston Police Department

The following is the list of remaining finalists for each category:
2023 State Law Enforcement Officer of the Year finalists:
- Lance Corporal Courtney Angotti-Smith, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- Special Agent Jarrett Greenway, South Carolina Department of Corrections
- Special Agent Bralion “BJ” E. Hyatt, Jr., South Carolina Law Enforcement Division - SLED

2023 County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year finalists:
- Sergeant Kenneth W. Fitzsimmons, Richland County Sheriff's Department
- Master Deputy Ryan Freeman, Greenville County Sheriff's Office
- Major James M. “Matt” Shaw, Lancaster County Sheriff's Office SC

2023 Municipal Law Enforcement Officer of the Year finalists:
- Master Police Officer Omar E. Bautista, City of Charleston Police Department
- Senior Corporal Christopher Kaderly, Irmo Police Department
- Senior Patrol Officer Raymond Schoonmaker, Mount Pleasant Police Department
- Detective Aaron J. Smith, North Myrtle Beach Police

See more photos from the event at the online photo album here - www.flickr.com/photos/scdps/albums/72177720317187364/

You can read more about the agency's involvement in the press release here - https://scdps.sc.gov/news/2024/052124