Photo Gallery | Highway Patrol Honors Troopers, Telecommunications Personnel

Highway Patrol Honors Troopers, Telecommunications Personnel

Submitted by Tenessa Jennings, Community Web Producer

Monday, March 19th, 2012, 9:40am

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S/Tpr. Anthony B. Fox, Troop Five, was named South Carolina Trooper of the Year.

Ms. Lauren Barron, Blythewood TCC, was named TCO of the Year.

Front row: Nichols, Barron, Bloodgood, Rucker; Back row: Sgt. David Babbitt, Butler, Lt. Mike Burgess

Telecommunications Winners: Ms. Hope Nichols, Greenville TCC Ms. Lauren Barron, Blythewood Telecommunications Center Ms. Nicole Bloodgood, Charleston TCC Ms. Kimberly Rucker, Greenwood TCC Matthew J. Butler, Florence TCC

Bokern, Humphries, Francis, Cardona, Pickens, Fox, Allison, Antley, Jones, James

Trooper of the Year Winners: Troop One: Senior Trooper Adam Antley, Post C (Lexington) Troop Two: Lance Corporal Benji Humphries, Post E (DUI Team) Troop Three: Trooper First Class Jeremy M. Pickens, Post A (Anderson) Troop Four: Senior Trooper Brian L. Allison, Post A (Cherokee/Union) Troop Five: Senior Trooper Anthony B. Fox, (DUI Team) Troop Six: Trooper Jessea D. James, Post A (Berkeley/Charleston) Troop Seven: Lance Corporal John C. Francis, Post B (Orangeburg/Calhoun) Troop Eight: Corporal Anthony H. Bokern, Region V Motor Unit Troop Nine: Lance Corporal Judd Jones, Community Relations Office Troop 11: Sergeant Jaime Cardona, DPS Employment Unit

The South Carolina Highway Patrol recognized troopers and telecommunications personnel from around the state today at the Trooper/TCO of the Year ceremony in Blythewood. The Highway Patrol, joined by SCDPS Director Leroy Smith, recognized valor, attention to detail and overall outstanding work ethic for the men and women that make up the Highway Patrol, which has more than 900 employees.

S/Tpr. Anthony B. Fox, Troop Five, was named South Carolina Trooper of the Year. Ms. Lauren Barron, Blythewood TCC, was named TCO of the Year.

The Highway Patrol named a winner from each of the seven Troops and three specialty units. The Telecommunications Officers were also recognized for outstanding service to the public and support to the troopers.

Fox has been with the Highway Patrol since 2008 assigned to Troop 5, Dillon, Florence and Marion counties. He currently serves on the DUI Team. Fox’s investigative skills during a traffic stop helped lead Clarendon County investigators to the arrest of a suspect in a woman’s murder.

On November 23, 2011, an alert for a possible impaired driver was dispatched in Florence County. S/Tpr. Fox conducted a traffic stop on the wanted vehicle and subsequently arrested the driver for DUI. While completing an inventory of the suspect’s vehicle, S/Tpr. Fox noticed several pieces of property including women’s jewelry, televisions, DVD players and a wallet belonging to a female with a Clarendon County address.

Further investigation revealed that on the same day as Fox’s traffic stop, the suspect had allegedly entered a female’s home with intentions of burglary but killed her when she returned home and found the suspect inside her home. The suspect was later charged with homicide.

“S/Tpr. Fox’s traffic stop was the key to this arrest because he used his training and experience to look beyond an ordinary traffic stop and follow his instincts to investigate further,” said Col. Mike Oliver. “This is the kind of attention to detail that we try emphasize to all of our troopers. We are so proud of Fox -- not only for this arrest -- but the overall pattern of outstanding work he exhibits each shift.”