Six Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Receive Medal of Valor Award

(From L -R: Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw, Staff Sergeant Charles Mulwee, First Sergeant David Carr, Corporal Chris Johnson, Corporal Lucas Watts, Lieutenant Justin Murphy and Captain Thomas Crompton

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------At an honorary luncheon held in Columbia back on April 23rd, six Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies received the prestigious Medal of Valor award presented by the South Carolina Sheriff’s Association.

The six Sheriff’s Office Deputies were among a total of 31 award winners that were honored during the luncheon, which was held at the Palmetto Club in downtown Columbia.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies who received Medal of Valor Awards were Corporal Lucas Watts, Captain Thomas Crompton, Lieutenant Justin Murphy, First Sergeant David Carr, Staff Sergeant Charles Mulwee and Corporal Chris Johnson. 

The six Deputies received their award based upon their actions on November 16th, 2023 in regards to the officer involved shooting that injured Corporal Watts after a vehicle pursuit.  The other five Sheriff’s Office Deputies were recognized for their efforts to provide first aid to Corporal Watts and for taking him to an ambulance so paramedics could continue lifesaving efforts and transport Lucas to Greenville Memorial Hospital.

According to a news release issued by the Sheriffs’ Association back on April 21st, the Medal of Valor is presented to law enforcement officers who perform actions above and beyond the call of duty, exhibit exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind, act with unusual swiftness, regardless of their personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life.