LEXINGTON - The Lexington County Sheriff's Foundation conducted the annual Deputy of the Year Awards Banquet on Oct. 22 to honor Lexington County Sheriff's Department employees and volunteers who did an outstanding job in 2006 and 2007.

Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts presented awards to several employees and volunteers with local connections whom their peers and the Sheriff's Foundation selected to be honored at the banquet, which was held at the Radisson Hotel Columbia and Conference Center on Bush River Road in the St. Andrews community.

The Sheriff's Foundation is a nonprofit group that provides money to buy equipment and services for deputies that are not purchased through the normal governmental budget process. The foundation has bought police radios, impact weapons, back-up firearms, a K-9 police dog, training equipment and cameras for use by deputies.

James E. Kemfort, 34, a resource officer at Swansea High School, was named Deputy of the Year. He has worked for the Sheriff's Department since Nov. 6, 2006.

Kemfort was recognized for the exceptional valor he showed in a gunfight with a suspect in a domestic dispute that involved the shooting of a fellow deputy, Metts said. A South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation shows Kemfort acted appropriately when he fatally shot John Scott Tribble, 38, who initiated a gunfight with Deputy Joe Glover and Kemfort on Jan. 23 at Tribble's home at 3906 Calks Ferry Road. Tribble shot and wounded Glover. Kemfort returned fire with a shotgun in order to defend his life and Glover's life. Tribble continued to fire at Glover and Kemfort, while Kemfort returned fire.

"James did what he had to do on Jan. 23. Training helped James prevail that day," Metts said. "This is why we push training for our officers. We live in a time of uncertainty. We never know what we will face as law enforcement officers."

The sheriff added, "The SLED investigation shows that James acted appropriately in an extremely stressful and dangerous situation. I am proud of the professionalism and courage that James displayed while he was under fire from a suspect."

Named the Brian S. Mills Rookie of the Year was Deputy Thomas James "Jay" Bonnette Jr., 31, of Orangeburg. He has worked for the Lexington County Sheriff's Department since Sept. 5, 2006. Bonnette is assigned to road patrol duty in the South Region patrol district, which is based near Gaston.

Bonnette's supervisor reports that he shows a passion for learning and has demonstrated a high level of proficiency in performing his duties as a deputy, Metts said. Bonnette has shown outstanding composure and professionalism during critical incidents, he said.

"Jay already has proven that he has committed himself to the highest standards of professional excellence and sets a fine example for fellow officers," Metts said. "I want to challenge Jay and other young deputies to continue to strive for excellence in protecting and serving the citizens of Lexington County."

Another honoree with an Orangeburg County connection is the K-9 Police Dog Team of the Year, Deputy Brian Hinz and K-9 Police Dog Bayka.

The Sheriff's Foundation provided $8,500 to buy Bayka, an 18-month-old Belgian Malinois who had undergone training to be a K-9 police dog, Metts said. Hinz was teamed with Bayka 10 months ago, and the pair underwent seven weeks of intensive training in Edgefield. Hinz and Bayka also undergo weekly training to maintain their proficiency in the areas of drug-detection, man-tracking and apprehension of criminal suspects.

Hinz and Bayka have handled more than 160 K-9 calls, and they successfully tracked and located 11 persons, Metts said. They have developed information that led to arrests in a burglary case and an armed robbery case and assisted the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Department in seizing $87,000 in drug-related money following a traffic stop on a motor vehicle.

"Brian and Bayka are receiving special recognition for their hard work and stunning success," Metts said. "We are grateful that the Sheriff's Foundation saw fit to buy Bayka and strongly support our agency's K-9 police dog program."

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