South Carolina H 5612: Medal of Valor, Chester SROs Going, Alexander, Stinson, and Griffin

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5612 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 29, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5612

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A house RESOLUTION

TO HONOR CORPORAL KRISTIAN GOING, DEPUTY WANDA 
ALEXANDER, DEPUTY SANDRA STINSON, AND DEPUTY RICHARD GRIFFIN OF THE CHESTER 
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE AND DECISIVE ACTION IN 
RESPONDING TO A DANGEROUS HOSTAGE SITUATION, COMMEND THEM FOR THEIR HEROIC 
SERVICE IN THE LINE OF DUTY, and CONGRATULATE THEM UPON RECEIVING THE SOUTH 
CAROLINA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION MEDAL OF VALOR.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to recognize Corporal Kristian 
Going, Deputy Wanda Alexander, Deputy Sandra Stinson, and Deputy Richard 
Griffin of the Chester County Sheriff's Office for exceptional courage, 
decisive action, and devotion to duty in responding to a dangerous hostage 
situation at Chester Park Elementary School. On October 31, 2025, these 
deputies, while serving as school resource officers for the Chester County 
School District, responded to a rapidly escalating, life-threatening incident 
on school grounds involving a violent suspect whose actions placed students, 
faculty, and staff in immediate danger; and

Whereas, the incident 
began with a vehicle crash on campus. Deputy Griffin demonstrated keen 
situational awareness by responding to the accident, recognizing the escalating 
threat, and immediately calling for additional assistance after the suspect 
fled the scene on foot toward the school. The suspect next entered a playground 
area and violently breached a classroom by diving through a glass window, 
creating chaos and terror among students and staff. Amid the confusion and 
danger, Deputy Alexander displayed exceptional composure and professionalism by 
securing the crash scene and rendering aid to the injured victim in the 
vehicle, thus ensuring the safety of others and allowing responding deputies to 
focus fully on the unfolding emergency. Inside the classroom, the suspect 
engaged in a physical struggle with school personnel before seizing a child and 
forcibly dragging the student onto the playground, thereby creating an 
immediate and grave threat to the safety and life of the child; and

Whereas, acting without 
hesitation and with complete disregard for her own safety, Deputy Stinson 
rushed directly toward the armed, volatile suspect in an effort to protect the 
child and prevent further harm. She was immediately joined by Deputy Griffin 
and Corporal Going. Facing an unpredictable and dangerous situation, these 
deputies coordinated a swift and courageous tactical response without waiting 
for additional backup, placing themselves directly between the suspect and 
innocent children in order to stop the threat and rescue the abducted child; 
and

Whereas, through their 
extraordinary bravery, teamwork, and decisive intervention, the child was 
safely recovered, the suspect was apprehended, and no student, staff member, or 
deputy suffered serious injury during the incident. The actions of Corporal 
Going, Deputy Alexander, Deputy Stinson, and Deputy Griffin exemplify the 
highest standards of courage, professionalism, and public service and reflect 
great credit upon the Chester County Sheriff's Office and the State of South Carolina. 
With great pride, the House of Representatives salutes these stalwart officers 
upon their receipt of the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Medal of Valor. Now, 
therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, honor Corporal Kristian Going, Deputy Wanda Alexander, 
Deputy Sandra Stinson, and Deputy Richard Griffin of the Chester County 
Sheriff's Office for exceptional courage and decisive action in responding to a 
dangerous hostage situation, commend them for their heroic service in the line 
of duty, and congratulate them upon receiving the South Carolina Sheriffs' 
Association Medal of Valor.

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Corporal Kristian Going, Deputy 
Wanda Alexander, Deputy Sandra Stinson, and Deputy Richard Griffin.

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This web page was last updated on April 29, 2026 at 11:34 AM