South Carolina S 564: Medal of Valor Award - Lee County

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 564 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 15, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 564

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A concurrent RESOLUTION

to recognize and honor lee county sheriff's office 
Chief Deputy J. Chase Iseman, SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 
Lance Corporal Gene Mike Norris, and Special Agents Neal Nelson and Spencer 
Pumphrey, both with the south carolina law enforcement division, and to 
congratulate them for being awarded the 2024 south carolina sheriffs' 
association medal of valor. 

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina General Assembly are proud to recognize the law enforcement 
officers of the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the South Carolina Department of 
Natural Resources, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, who were 
awarded the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Medal of Valor for their courageous 
actions during an incident involving the shooting of a McBee police officer and 
the subsequent flight of the suspect from the scene; and

Whereas, this prestigious 
award is presented annually to law enforcement officers who display exceptional 
courage, decisiveness, presence of mind, and swift action, often at a great 
personal risk, to save or protect human life; and

Whereas, on September 
19, 2024, a police officer was shot during a traffic stop in the Town of McBee. 
The suspect fled the scene, prompting a widespread search for his whereabouts. The 
following day, September 20, 2024, Chief Deputy J. Chase Iseman, Lance Corporal 
Gene Mike Norris, Special Agent Neal Nelson, and Special Agent Spencer Pumphrey 
were working on an unrelated case in Lee County when they were informed that 
the suspect in the McBee officer's shooting was believed to be in the vicinity 
of Lee State Park. The officers immediately responded, and upon arrival, Chief 
Deputy Iseman and Lance Corporal Norris, who were traveling together, identified 
the suspect's vehicle and relayed the information to SLED agents in the area. The 
officers began following the suspect, maintaining visual contact as additional 
resources were deployed to the area; and 

Whereas, approximately 
four minutes later, the officers lost sight of the vehicle as it turned onto 
Una Road and disappeared around a bend. As they rounded the corner, the 
officers discovered the suspect's vehicle blocking both lanes of traffic. Only 
forty-to-fifty yards away, they saw the suspect at the rear of the vehicle, 
aiming a rifle at them. As the officers exited their patrol car, the suspect 
immediately opened fire, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire, with the 
suspect firing several hundred rounds at their patrol vehicle which contained 
Lee County Sheriff's Office K-9 Deputy Mikka. The patrol car was struck and 
caught fire from the barrage of bullets, but K-9 Deputy Mikka could not be 
rescued due to the severity of the gunfire. The suspect was wounded during the 
exchange of gunfire and was later found deceased in a nearby field. In the 
aftermath of the shooting, the suspect was discovered to be in possession of several 
loaded AR-15 magazines and a pipe bomb. The swift and heroic actions of these 
four officers prevented further tragedy at the hands of the suspect; and

Whereas, in recognition 
of their exceptional bravery and dedication to duty, Chief Deputy J. Chase 
Iseman, Lance Corporal Gene Mike Norris, Special Agent Neal Nelson, and Special 
Agent Spencer Pumphrey have been awarded the South Carolina Sheriffs' 
Association Medal of Valor, honoring their commitment to the highest ideals of 
law enforcement; and

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina General Assembly express deep appreciation for the courage 
and dedication of these officers, who risk their lives daily to protect the 
citizens of our great State. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of 
Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General 
Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Lee County Sheriff's Office 
Chief Deputy J. Chase Iseman, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 
Lance Corporal Gene Mike Norris, and Special Agents Neal Nelson and Spencer 
Pumphrey, both with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and to congratulate 
them for being awarded the 2024 South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Medal of 
Valor.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution 
be presented to Chief Deputy J. Chase Iseman, Lance Corporal Gene Mike Norris, 
Special Agent Neal Nelson, and Special Agent Spencer Pumphrey. 

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