OPINION: Local troopers rack up honors, promotions

Our state troopers from the Pee Dee are on a roll. Two have been honored among the state’s outstanding troopers for 2008, while two others were promoted recently.
This region — and the entire state — benefits from the dedicated service these troopers have shown, some of them for about two decades now.
S.C. Highway Patrol Senior Trooper Owens Horton of Lake City was honored as the state’s trooper of the year. He put many hours into building a case against a man charged with a felony DUI that killed a 14-year-old girl. But he doesn’t take all the credit; he recognizes the sergeants who worked with him, as well.
He told the Lake City News & Post that the Interstate 95 incident, which happened in April 2008, has “really put a fire in me to get these intoxicated people off the road.”
Horton also keeps a photograph of the girl in his car and remains in contact with her family, he said.
“We want people to know the patrol does have compassion,” said Horton, who works in Clarendon and Sumter counties.
Before his statewide honor, he was recognized for the past two years as the trooper of the year for his post. He also received the Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Award for his troop in 2007, he said.
Jo Nell joined the patrol 20 years ago, worked his way through the ranks and recently was promoted to captain.
At his new rank, Nell is responsible for the day-to-day operations of about 150 troopers and support staff in Troop 5, which is composed of Florence, Darlington, Dillon, Marion, Williamsburg, Marlboro, Horry and Georgetown counties.
Nell told the Morning News he often reflects on what one of his superiors told him years ago when he was promoted to corporal: “Never forget where you came from.”
Nell still likes to get out of the office when he can, he said.
“I still miss being out there on the road,” he said. “I still stop cars, but not a lot. If I come up on a wreck, I get out and direct traffic. You’ve got to set an example and we’re out there to save lives.”
Senior Trooper Clinton A. Bostic, who works in Darlington and Marlboro counties, has the distinction of being the patrol’s Troop 5 trooper of the year.
Bostic, who lives in Effingham, began his career with the patrol in January 2006.
He has earned respect “by continually assisting his colleagues in their duties and demonstrating a work ethic that is beyond reproach,” states a press release from the S.C. Department of Public Safety.
Bostic has demonstrated child safety seat installations and given seat belt safety talks at local churches and schools. He also has received several letters from the public commending him on his professionalism and his devotion to duty.
He is a graduate of Hannah-Pamplico High School, where he is a mentor in his off-duty hours and assists with coaching the track team.
Rob Lee of Cheraw, recently promoted to captain, will work to determine just what happened during fatal collisions as he oversees the highway patrol’s Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation (MAIT) Unit.
He joined the patrol in 1990 and began serving on the MAIT Unit in 2000.
The unit responds to the scene of any deadly collision in which the at-fault driver survives.
Lee has investigated more than 2,500 collisions and has reconstructed more than 500 collisions, according to the state Department of Public Safety.
During his service, the Pee Dee MAIT Unit became the first in South Carolina to introduce animation and air bag control module data as court evidence, the department said in a press release. The unit also became the first of its type nationwide to prove intent on the part of a driver by using that data.
These troopers do their best to keep the roads safe, but not for awards — they do it because it’s their job. Nonetheless, their achievements are something to take pride in, both for them and our community. We congratulate them and thank them for all their hard work.