H 5084  Resolution, By Gilliam, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, 
Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bradley, 
Brawley, Brown, Bryant, Burns, Calhoon, Caskey, Chellis, Chumley, Clary, 
Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Collins, B.Cox, W.Cox, Crawford, 
Daning, Davis, Dillard, Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, 
Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Garvin, Gilliard, Govan, Haddon, Hardee, Hart, 
Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, 
Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Hyde, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kimmons, 
King, Kirby, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, Matthews, 
McCoy, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, McKnight, Moore, Morgan, D.C.Moss, V.S.Moss, 
Murphy, B.Newton, W.Newton, Norrell, Oremus, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pope, 
Ridgeway, Rivers, Robinson, Rose, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G.M.Smith, 
G.R.Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, 
Thigpen, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wheeler, White, Whitmire, R.Williams, 
S.Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF JO JO THE BLOODHOUND
 OF THE UNION COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND TO EXPRESS SYMPATHY IN THE LOSS OF
 THEIR CANINE COLLEAGUE TO ALL HER MANY FRIENDS.
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   02/04/20  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 2)

TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF JO JO THE BLOODHOUND OF THE UNION COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND TO EXPRESS SYMPATHY IN THE LOSS OF THEIR CANINE COLLEAGUE TO ALL HER MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the House of Representatives was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Jo Jo the bloodhound of the Union County Sheriff's Office on January 21, 2020; and

Whereas, she was the first dog, and Sergeant Russell Vinson the first handler, in a K-9 unit that started with a puppy, a flashlight, and a leash. Union County Sheriff David Taylor said that the unit, for which Jo Jo served as the foundation, has been a significant asset to the agency in apprehending criminals; and

Whereas, sadly, in October 2018, after more than eight years of working with Jo Jo, Sergeant Vinson discovered that Jo Jo had a cancerous tumor in her nasal cavity. The veteran deputy took her out on the job for the last time in mid-October, and she tracked down two people who had reportedly broken into a house, her three hundredth and three hundred first captures in her service to the county; and

Whereas, at work, Jo Jo rode in the cab of Sergeant Vinson's cruiser while he was on patrol for twelve-hour shifts. She led him on hundreds of miles of pursuits through forests, farmland, and cities alike; and

Whereas, after her last day on the job, Sergeant Vinson worked to make Jo Jo as comfortable as possible as her cancer progressed, and the Union County Sheriff's Department picked up the tab for her medical expenses. For about eight years, she had been sleeping in a kennel adjacent to her handler's Jonesville home, but he brought her inside the house after her cancer diagnosis so he could spend more time with her and "just let her be a dog." Sergeant Vinson was with his beloved Jo Jo when she passed away; and

Whereas, the Union County Sheriff's Office will hold a memorial service for Jo Jo on February 7, 2020. Already deeply missed, this special dog will be remembered with much gratitude and affection. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, celebrate the life and service of Jo Jo the bloodhound of the Union County Sheriff's Office and express sympathy in the loss of their canine colleague to all her many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Jo Jo's handler, Sergeant Russell Vinson, and Sheriff David Taylor for the Union County Sheriff's Office.