H 5292  Concurrent Resolution, By Forrest, Taylor, Caskey, Huggins, Calhoon, 
Ballentine, McCabe, Ott, May, Wooten and Pope
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY
 OFFICER ROY ANDREW "DREW" BARR OF THE CAYCE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHILE IN THE
 LINE OF DUTY AND TO EXPRESS TO HIS FAMILY THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND THE MOST
 PROFOUND APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL STATE FOR HIS LIFE, SACRIFICE, AND
 SERVICE.

   04/27/22  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 16)
   04/28/22  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence
                     (Senate Journal-page 5)

TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY OFFICER ROY ANDREW "DREW" BARR OF THE CAYCE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHILE IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND TO EXPRESS TO HIS FAMILY THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND THE MOST PROFOUND APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL STATE FOR HIS LIFE, SACRIFICE, AND SERVICE.

Whereas, in all generations, it behooves an ordered, peaceful society to demonstrate appreciation to those men and women who make possible the safety and security of its citizens. The people of the great State of South Carolina are singularly blessed with police officers, military servicemen and women, firefighters, rescue personnel, and Highway Patrol officers who serve selflessly, often putting their lives in danger in the delivery of that service; and

Whereas, Officer Roy Andrew "Drew" Barr of the Cayce Police Department stands high among those men and women who have labored to ensure the safety and security of the Palmetto State and who, therefore, retain a place of honor in the hearts of its citizens; and

Whereas, in 2016, Officer Barr joined the Cayce Police Department as a police trainee. He distinguished himself early on by working well with children and caring for his Cayce community; and

Whereas, in 2017, he graduated from the Criminal Justice Academy in Columbia. On May 27, 2017, he and Cayce Police Department Sergeant Evan Antley chased a suspect who was driving a stolen vehicle. The suspect shot and wounded both Barr and Antley, but both returned fire and survived. In 2021, the suspect admitted shooting the two officers, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder and other charges, and was sentenced to twenty years in state prison; and

Whereas, in October 2020, Officer Barr was promoted to the Cayce Police Department's K-9 unit, working with his beloved dog, Molly, a K-9 black Labrador retriever with whom he forged a strong bond; and

Whereas, on Sunday, April 24, 2022, Officer Barr faced another shooting incident that would result in tragedy, unlike the 2017 incident. At 2:48 a.m., he and two other Cayce Police Department officers responded to a domestic violence call on Rossmore Road in Cayce, where a suspect opened fire, fatally shooting Officer Barr and later fatally shooting himself after a seven-hour negotiation. The courageous Officer Barr lost his fight for life at the young age of only twenty-seven; and

Whereas, in addition to his service with the Cayce Police Department, Officer Barr, a resident of Monetta, served as an emergency medical technician and as a captain with the Monetta Volunteer Fire Department; and

Whereas, there is no greater or more courageous sacrifice a man can make than to lay down his life for a noble cause, as did Officer Drew Barr; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly counts it a great privilege to remember Officer Barr, one of the Palmetto State's finest, and the members with one voice offer their grateful thanks to Almighty God for the service and ultimate sacrifice of this valiant son of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, honor and remember the supreme sacrifice made by Officer Roy Andrew "Drew" Barr of the Cayce Police Department while in the line of duty and express to his family the deepest sympathy and the most profound appreciation of a grateful State for his life, sacrifice, and service.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Officer Roy Andrew "Drew" Barr.