Top sheriff’s officers recognized

Lexington County law enforcement officers and other county residents were honored for various acts of community service during the Sheriff’s Department Employee Awards Ceremony last week.

Capt. Michael “Mike” Gordon and Sgt. Barington Butler received the Sheriff’s Medal, the highest law enforcement honor the sheriff can bestow.

Gordon, 46, who lives near South Congaree, was honored for his 25 years’ service with the Sheriff’s Department. He will retire from the force next month and most recently served as commander of the North Region patrol district based near Irmo.

Butler, 63, of Columbia, retired from the force last week after working for the Sheriff’s Department for 11 years. He started his career in 1996 as a correctional officer at the county Detention Center. He was named a master correctional officer in 2000 and sergeant in 2004.

Investigator Thomas Hamilton, 38, of Gilbert, and field training officer William Bradley “Brad” White Jr., 30, of West Columbia, were named Employees of the Quarter. The two were selected by the Sheriff’s Advisory Council.

In December, White responded to a home on Eargle Drive near West Columbia where he assisted a young woman who was unconscious and suffering a seizure.

Hamilton later arrived and the two took turns performing rescue breathing on the woman until EMS personnel arrived. The woman eventually began breathing on her own and regained consciousness before she was transported to a hospital.

White Knoll High School principal Jo Mayer, retired U.S. Army Capt. Dan Hennigan, ROTC Commander First Sgt. David Pelley and Nancy Lundy received the Sheriff’s Award, — the highest civilian honor that the sheriff can bestow.

The four played important roles in organizing a November fundraiser at White Knoll High School to honor the late Lance Cpl. Joshua L. Torrence, a White Knoll High graduate who was killed in the line of duty while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq. The football field at the school recently was named the Joshua L. Torrence Memorial Field House.

“As a result of the superb leadership of these four outstanding persons, the citizens of Lexington County were presented with an opportunity to come together as one community to honor a fallen hero,” said Sheriff James Metts, who presented the awards. “The field house will serve as a very appropriate memorial.”