1 Sumter, 1 Clarendon trooper presented awards at SCHP Graduation Ceremony

Two local men earned top honors at their South Carolina Highway Patrol Graduation Ceremony.

Trooper William E. Baker from Clarendon County was presented with the Capt. Cecil Dilworth Marksmanship Award for excelling in firearms training and for achieving the highest cumulative score during Basic Class 112's Patrol School Training.

Trooper Thomas A. Johnson from Sumter County was presented with the Capt. Cecil Dilworth Marksmanship Award for excelling in firearms training and for achieving the highest cumulative score during Basic Class 113's Patrol School Training.

Only graduates and command staff attended the ceremony that was streamed on the department's YouTube and Facebook pages for family and friends.

Baker was one of 15 graduates in Basic Class 112 while Johnson was one of 22 graduates in Basic Class 113. Basic Class 114 had 21 graduates.

"We have 58 well-prepared law enforcement professionals assigned to communities all over South Carolina ready to focus on their mission of saving lives on the highways," said S.C. Department of Public Safety Director Robert G. Woods IV. "These three classes have had the distinction of being the first in the Highway Patrol to train and begin policing in the COVID-19 environment, and I am so proud of the way they have risen to the challenge."

The 58 graduates bring the total number of troopers in South Carolina to 785, including 36 troopers in training.

According to Woods, troopers are assigned to areas based on population, calls for service and the number of licensed drivers/registered vehicles in an area. Both Baker and Johnson have been assigned to Troop 1, which includes Clarendon, Sumter, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington and Richland counties. Baker has been assigned to Troop 1/Post A (Clarendon/Sumter counties), and Johnson has been assigned to Troop 1/Post B (Lee/Kershaw counties).

"As a trooper, you will be a hero as you show compassion to someone who has lost a family member," Woods told the graduates. "You will be a role model for young children. Those blue lights will be a welcome sight to a stranded motorist."

SCHP Col. Christopher Williamson told the graduates that they have the potential to greatly impact the areas they serve.

"You will have a tremendous impact on the public you serve if you remain consistent, principled and fair," he said.