South Carolina H 4332: Medal of Valor-Richland County K9 Bumi and K9 Specialist Alan Ware

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4332 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 09, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4332

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 K-9 Bumi and K-9 Specialist 
Alan Ware OF THE Richland COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE IN 
THE FACE OF DANGER WHILE IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM UPON RECEIVING 
THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION 2024 MEDAL OF VALOR AWARD.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina General Assembly was saddened to learn of the death of K-9 Bumi and is 
grateful to learn that K-9 Bumi and his partner, K-9 Specialist Alan Ware, will 
be awarded the esteemed South Carolina Sheriffs' Association 2024 Medal of 
Valor Award during the association's awards banquet in Columbia on April 23, 
2025; and

Whereas, the Medal of 
Valor Award is presented to a deputy sheriff who performs actions above and 
beyond the call of duty; exhibits exceptional courage, extraordinary 
decisiveness, and presence of mind; or acts with unusual swiftness, regardless 
of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life. Nominations 
made by the sheriff are presented to a standing committee of sheriffs who 
evaluate the nominations, and recipients are presented with the medal at the awards 
banquet; and

Whereas, early on 
Monday, December 23, 2024, deputies spotted a stolen vehicle in Richland County 
and initiated a traffic stop. The suspects, in an attempt to evade law 
enforcement, led the deputies on a short pursuit before the deputies successfully 
deployed stop sticks. The suspects lost control of the vehicle and crashed at 
an intersection. Two suspects ran from the vehicle while the third was 
immediately detained; and

Whereas, K-9 Specialist 
Ware and K-9 Bumi began to track one of the suspects on foot. When the K-9 took 
after one of the teens, the chase turned a corner behind a residence, and K-9 
Bumi got out of the vision of K-9 Specialist Ware. K-9 Bumi attempted to bite 
the suspect, who fired several shots at K-9 Specialist Ware and Bumi, striking 
Bumi multiple times. Bumi was wearing a vest but was hit underneath the vest in 
the chest. He was immediately taken to CVETs, but unfortunately, he succumbed 
to his injuries; and

Whereas, without 
hesitation on that early morning, K-9 Bumi exemplified courage, dedication, and 
loyalty to his partner in the face of danger by saving the life of K-9 
Specialist Ware. K-9 Bumi was four years old and had been partners with Officer 
Ware for two years, displaying many acts of valor throughout his career; and

Whereas, Officer Ware 
displayed extreme courage in the face of life-threatening danger in 
apprehending the three suspects, all teens, in a stolen car, carrying weapons, 
and shooting at deputies; and

Whereas, the three 
teenagers were taken into custody and are facing charges in connection to the 
incident. The sixteen year old who stayed at the scene of the crash is charged 
with obstruction of justice and misprision, and a thirteen year old is charged 
with unlawful killing of a police dog, among other charges, including attempted 
murder, malicious injury to personal property, and over ten thousand dollars in 
charges related to possession of a weapon and possession of a stolen vehicle; 
and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina General Assembly is honored to recognize the heroism and determination 
of law enforcement officers and first responders like K-9 Specialist Alan Ware 
and K-9 Bumi who protect and defend our citizens, putting the safety of others 
above their own personal safety. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the South Carolina General 
Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor K-9 Bumi and K-9 Specialist 
Alan Ware of the Richland County Sheriff's Office for exceptional courage in 
the face of danger while in the line of duty and congratulate them upon 
receiving the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association 2024 Medal of Valor Award.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution 
be presented to K-9 Specialist Alan Ware posthumously to K-9 Bumi.

----XX---

This web page was last updated on April 09, 2025 at 03:27 PM