Corporal Lucas Watts Honored in Myrtle Beach as Deputy of the Year

(From L - R: Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw, Sgt. Charles Mulwee, Corporal Billy Lee, Agent Logan Watts, Sherry Watts, Bobby Watts, Corporal Chris Johnson, Lt. Justin Murphy, First Sgt. David Carr and Captain Tommy Crompton)

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------During the recent South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association Annual Conference Award Banquet in Myrtle Beach, SC on July 17th, Corporal Lucas Watts was named as Deputy of the Year.

Corporal Watts was nominated by Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw and was selected for the award after a vote by the Sheriffs’ of South Carolina. 

“On behalf of Corporal Watts and his family, as well as the men and women of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, I am grateful to the Sheriffs’ of Oconee County for selecting Lucas for this prestigious award,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw.  “There were many great nominees for the Deputy of the Year award and I congratulate all those who were also nominated.”

Due to his continued recovery, and on the advice of his doctors, Lucas and his family were not able to travel to Myrtle Beach to accept the award.  Lucas’ brother Logan, who is an Agent with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, accepted the award on his brother’s behalf.

Also in attendance were Lucas and Logan’s parents, Bobby and Sherry Watts.  Besides Sheriff Crenshaw, other Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were in attendance, including those Deputies were with Lucas, and acted quickly to administer first aid and transport Lucas to an ambulance during the officer involved shooting that injured Corporal Watts on November 16th, 2023.  The attendance of Lucas’ fellow officers was made possible by the Oconee County (SC) Sheriff’s Foundation.   

“During the Awards Banquet each year, the Association votes to select not only the Deputy of the Year but the Sheriff of the Year and a Detention Officer of the Year.  A video is produced for each award recipient that is shown before they accept their award,” according to Sheriff Crenshaw.  “Our staff at the Sheriff’s Office produced the video that was shown before the Deputy of the Year Award.  After showing it to our staff last Tuesday during our Promotions Ceremony, we are happy to share this video with our citizens and the public as well.”