South Carolina H 4333: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR FRANCIS DAVID THOMPSON, A VETERAN OF THE KOREAN WAR, FOR DECADES OF SIGNIFICANT AND EXTENSIVE SERVICE TO THE PALMETTO STATE AND THE MAULDIN COMMUNITY.

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4333 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 09, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4333

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 INVESTIGATOR JACKIE "COTTON" 
HEFFNER, CORPORAL BRIAN GENWRIGHT, DEPUTY JEFFERY SESSOMS, AND DEPUTY BRIANNA 
ALLEN OF THE MARLBORO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS SERGEANT SCOTT BOWEN 
AND OFFICER JAKE KING OF THE BENNETTSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND TO 
CONGRATULATE THEM ON BEING AWARDED THE 2024 SOUTH CAROLINA SHERIFFS' 
ASSOCIATION MEDAL OF VALOR.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina General Assembly are pleased to learn that Investigator 
Jackie "Cotton" Heffner, Corporal Brian Genwright, Deputy Jeffery Sessoms, and 
Deputy Brianna Allen of the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office, as well as 
Sergeant Scott Bowen and Officer Jake King of the Bennettsville Police 
Department were awarded the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Medal of Valor 
on April 23, 2025, for courageously taking action, at great danger to 
themselves, that saved the lives of two citizens. The award is presented 
annually to law enforcement officers who perform actions above and beyond the 
call of duty; exhibit exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, and 
presence of mind; or act with unusual swiftness, regardless of personal safety, 
in an attempt to save or protect human life; and

Whereas, on December 
29, 2023, deputies from the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office were dispatched 
regarding a silver Infiniti sedan that had just been reported stolen from the 
city limits of Bennettsville. The stolen vehicle was being followed by the 
owner's boyfriend. Central Dispatch advised units that the vehicle was 
traveling down E. Main Street Extension in Bennettsville. Dispatch then advised 
units that the vehicle turned onto Bennettsville Fire Tower Road, heading 
toward the Town of Tatum. Once in Tatum, the vehicle headed toward the McColl 
town limits but made a U-turn in a parking lot and then went back toward 
Bennettsville. Deputy Jeffery Sessoms was traveling down US 15/401 and got to 
Domtar in Tatum when a silver Infiniti sedan passed him at a high rate of speed 
while being followed by a Chevrolet SUV. The deputy radioed in and advised 
other units with the vehicle update; and

Whereas, during this 
time, other units were staging in the area. Deputy Sessoms lost sight of the 
vehicle for a short period. However, Corporal Brian Genwright gained a visual 
on the vehicle as it continued to drive at a high rate of speed toward the city 
limits of Bennettsville. As deputies and city officers continued to make a 
lawful traffic stop with activated blue lights and sirens, the vehicle turned 
into a residential neighborhood. A short time later, the vehicle struck a curb, 
began to flip, and came to rest on its side as the engine compartment had 
become engulfed in flames. Sergeant Scott Bowen and Officer Jake King 
(Bennettsville Police Department) went to the vehicle to check for occupants. Investigator 
Jackie "Cotton" Heffner observed two individuals on the ground who had been 
ejected near the burning vehicle. Deputy Sessoms and Investigator Heffner moved 
one individual to safety while Corporal Genwright and Deputy Brianna Allen 
moved the second individual to safety. Marlboro County Sheriff Larry McNeil 
noted to the local newspaper that both individuals had been ejected from the 
vehicle and were dangerously close to it and that the responding officers had 
risked their lives in order to save these citizens by dragging them to safety. 
Sheriff McNeil later awarded Bennettsville police officers Scott Bowen and Jake 
King and MCSO deputies Jackie "Cotton" Heffner, Brianna Allen, Jeffery Sessoms, 
and Brian Genwright commendations for their actions that night; and

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina General Assembly appreciate the courage and dedication of 
law enforcement officers like Investigator Jackie "Cotton" Heffner (now 
sergeant), Corporal Brian Genwright (now sergeant), Deputy Jeffery Sessoms (now 
investigator), and Deputy Brianna Allen of the Marlboro County Sheriff's 
Office, as well as Sergeant Scott Bowen and Officer Jake King (now deputy with 
MCSO) of the Bennettsville Police Department, who put their lives on the line 
every day and who provide safety and security to protect the citizens of our 
great State. 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 Investigator Jackie "Cotton" 
Heffner, Corporal Brian Genwright, Deputy Jeffery Sessoms, and Deputy Brianna 
Allen of the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office, as well as Sergeant Scott Bowen 
and Officer Jake King of the Bennettsville Police Depa