When Harold Donnelly saw an Elloree police officer struggling with a suspect on the side of a road, he had to decide if he would ignore it, watch from the sidelines, or get involved.
Harold Donnelly, left, and Elloree Police Chief Shawn Murphree shake hands during the town council meeting on Monday, Sept. 11.
The retired New York City police detective “had no clue what was going on,” but “he saw this officer in need of help,” Elloree Police Chief Shawn Murphree said during the Elloree Town Council meeting on Monday, Sept. 11.
Donnelly followed “his natural instinct as a police officer,” Murphree said. “He stopped, engaged in the fight, and they were able to get (the suspect) in custody.”
A weapon and a substance that appeared to be illegal narcotics were found in the suspect’s vehicle.
“Thank you for what you did,” Murphree told Donnelly, adding, “Once a cop, always a cop.”
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Donnelly thanked Murphree for the unexpected public expression of appreciation. He noted that it was the anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001 – an appropriate time to remember the many people, both in and out of uniform, who performed extraordinary acts of selflessness and bravery during and after those events.
Donnelly is an Orangeburg County Soil and Water commissioner. He is also a member of the committee that is organizing the local celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
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