By: D.J. Sanders, Intern
A South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper whose quick actions likely saved countless lives during a
dangerous wrong-way pursuit has been recognized with one of the highest honors in law enforcement.
Lance Corporal R.A. Lee has been named the American Association of State Troopers’ National Trooper of
the Year for 2026, becoming the first South Carolina state trooper to receive the prestigious award.
Lee, who joined the South Carolina Highway Patrol in 2020 and is assigned to Troop 4, Post C in Chester
County, earned national recognition for his actions during a high-speed pursuit in July 2025.
According to authorities, Lee intentionally drove his patrol vehicle into the path of a speeding wrong-way
driver traveling on Interstate 77 in a stolen vehicle. The collision brought the pursuit to an end, disabling
the suspect’s vehicle and preventing what could have been a catastrophic crash involving innocent
motorists traveling on the interstate.
While the impact destroyed Lee’s patrol vehicle, his actions prevented injuries to unsuspecting drivers who
were in the path of the fleeing suspect.
When informed that he had been selected as the National Trooper of the Year, Lee said the news was
difficult to believe.
“I didn’t believe it when I heard. I was in pure shock,” Lee said. “I actually called my Captain back and asked him,
‘Is this a joke? Is this for real?'”
The national recognition adds to an already impressive list of honors Lee has received for his actions. In
2025, he was awarded the South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Medal of Valor. Earlier this year, he
was named the South Carolina Highway Patrol’s Trooper of the Year, and he was recently selected as a
finalist for the Governor’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award.
Lee was chosen from among 29 finalists from across the country for the National Trooper of the Year honor.
Despite the recognition, Lee remains humble about the incident that brought him national attention.
“I just prefer to go out, help the people I can, do my job, go home, and stay in the background,” Lee said. “I don’t
see what I did as heroic. I just felt like I was doing what needed to be done in that instant.”
His actions serve as a reminder of the split-second decisions law enforcement officers often face and the
risks they take to protect the public.
For South Carolina, Lee’s recognition is not only a personal achievement but also a point of pride for the
men and women who serve with the South Carolina Highway Patrol. His courage, selflessness, and
dedication to protecting others have earned him a place among the nation’s most respected law
enforcement officers.
