COLUMBIA — Three South Carolina law enforcement officers have been awarded special recognition by S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster, as a part of an inaugural Officer of the Year ceremony to celebrate excellence in law enforcement statewide.
Among those recognized May 19 was Senior Special Agent David Owen, the lead State Law Enforcement Division agent in the investigation of the double murder of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh, one of the most-watched criminal cases South Carolina has ever seen.
Sgt. Blake Weathersbee of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Luke Boling from the Rock Hill Police Department were also given Officer of the Year awards.
“The officers recognized today represent the very best our state has to offer,” McMaster said. “It’s truly a privilege to honor these fine men and women for their dedication to duty, service, and valor.”
In total, 13 finalists were identified from various state, county and municipal agencies. The three winners were awarded $10,000 each.
Weathersbee, a 15-year veteran of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, was injured on a call Sept. 22, when a domestic disturbance call turned into a house fire. Weathersbee was shot in the leg, but managed to alert other deputies to the suspect’s location and make sure they were safe. He was awarded the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association Medal of Valor earlier this year.
Boling has been recognized for his work with federal agents settling a nationwide drug trafficking case with roots in Rock Hill. Boling was given the 2022 South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association Officer of the Year Award and the 2022 Alston Wilkes Award.
The awards given May 19 were the first of their kind, distributed through the state-funded Governor’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award program. The S.C. Department of Public Safety organized the program, and a committee appointed by the governor selected winners in the state, county and municipal categories.
“Despite where they serve and what uniform they wear, this program allows us in the profession to all come together and rally around these exceptional individuals who are doing great work in their communities,” said S.C. Department of Public Safety Director Robert Woods.