South Carolina S 562: Medal of Valor-Newberry County Sergeant Michael Claytor

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 562 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 15, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 562

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 Sergeant Michael Claytor OF 
THE Newberry COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE IN THE FACE OF 
DANGER WHILE IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM UPON RECEIVING THE 
SOUTH CAROLINA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION 2024 MEDAL OF VALOR AWARD.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina General Assembly is pleased to learn that Sergeant Michael Claytor 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, on December 7, 
2023, Sergeant Claytor responded to a 911 call about an attempted break-in and 
shots fired into the glass of the backdoor toward the occupants of a house on 
Little Egypt Road in Newberry County; and

Whereas, when Sergeant 
Claytor arrived, the suspect had left the property, and the couple in the house 
advised Sergeant Claytor that the suspect might be returning to his home nearby 
on Kitchens Road; and

Whereas, Sergeant 
Claytor radioed in that he was going to the address on Kitchens to locate the 
suspect, and when he arrived there, he knocked on the door of the trailer, the 
suspect answered with a rifle in his hand. Another occupant in the house tried 
unsuccessfully to take the rifle from the suspect; and

Whereas, Sergeant Claytor 
radioed that the suspect was armed, and shortly thereafter, shots were fired. 
He requested EMS and a helicopter before other officers arrived. While waiting 
for backup, he began performing chest compressions on the suspect, and other 
deputies took over when they arrived; and

Whereas, when EMS 
members arrived, they announced that the suspect was deceased. Sergeant Claytor 
had responded quickly and decisively in keeping with his training to protect 
members of the community from the danger of an armed assailant without regard 
to his own safety; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina General Assembly is honored to recognize the heroism and determination 
of law enforcement officers and first responders like Michael Claytor who 
protect and defend our citizens, putting the safety of others above their own 
personal safety. 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 Sergeant Michael Claytor of 
the Newberry County Sheriff's Office for exceptional courage in the face of 
danger while in the line of duty and congratulate him 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 Sergeant Michael Claytor.

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This web page was last updated on April 15, 2025 at 12:43 PM