SLED Special Agents Recognized at 2025 SC Sheriff’s Association Medal of Valor Award Ceremony

Thursday, Apr 24, 2025

SLED Special Agents were among the recipients at the 2025 South Carolina Sheriff’s Association Medal of Valor Award Ceremony, held in Columbia, SC. SLED works side-by-side with local sheriff’s offices and other law enforcement partners across the state during countless life-threatening situations.

Lee County Sheriff Daniel Simon nominated Special Agent Edward Spenser Pumphrey and Senior Special Agent Neal Nelson for helping to search for and locate an armed subject, who shot a McBee police officer in September 2024. The incident resulted in the state’s first Blue Alert.

Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster nominated Lieutenant Keith Thrower, Special Agent Corey Jager, Special Agent Richard Cole Powell, and K9 Coba for their response during a critical incident. While serving an arrest warrant, the subject shot and killed K9 Coba.

SLED was proud to be recognized by the South Carolina Sheriff’s Association for the agency’s ongoing commitment to provide equal law enforcement service to all citizens of South Carolina.

Pictured from left to right:

• K9 Coba - End of Watch 6/11/2024

• Lieutenant Keith Thrower

• Special Agent Corey Jager

• Special Agent Richard Cole Powell

• Special Agent Edward Spenser Pumphrey

• Senior Special Agent Neal Nelson

The Medal of Valor is presented 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 their personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life

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