Bill
H 4331
H 4331 formally honors K-9 Wick, notes his posthumous Medal of Valor, mourns his death, and directs presenting the resolution to his handler, with no legal or funding impact.
Status and classification
- Bill number: H 4331 (concurrent resolution)
- Classification: Concurrent resolution (honorary)
- Procedural timeline (South Carolina General Assembly):
- Introduced and adopted by the House: April 9, 2025; sent to the Senate.
- Returned with concurrence: April 10, 2025.
- Note: The legislative file also includes unrelated text from a Massachusetts draft (Uniform Voidable Transactions Act). That material is separate and not part of this South Carolina concurrent resolution.
Purpose and intent
- To formally recognize and honor K-9 Wick of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
- To celebrate K-9 Wick’s posthumous award of the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association Medal of Valor (awarded April 23, 2025).
- To mourn Wick’s death in the line of duty and express gratitude for the service of K-9 Wick and law enforcement personnel.
- To direct that a copy of the resolution be presented to K-9 Specialist Zaid Abdullah, Wick’s handler.
Key factual findings recited in the resolution
- The South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association Medal of Valor is awarded annually for actions above and beyond the call of duty, including exceptional courage and risk to personal safety to save or protect human life.
- On June 19–20, 2024, a work van was stolen in Columbia. The stolen van was later pursued by deputies and stopped with stop sticks after a chase along Decker Boulevard and I‑77.
- Specialist Zaid Abdullah and K-9 Wick pursued the suspect on the interstate. While crossing the median, Wick’s leash detached; Wick entered a traffic lane and was struck by a passing vehicle and killed instantly.
- The resolution notes the Assembly’s gratitude for the courage and dedication of law enforcement animals and officers.
Who is affected / impact
- Primary subjects: K-9 Wick (posthumously honored) and K-9 Specialist Zaid Abdullah (recipient of the resolution copy).
- Institutional recognition for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association.
- Practical effect: purely honorary and symbolic—no legal, regulatory, or budgetary implications.
Text provisions (concise)
- Recognition and honorific language for K-9 Wick.
- Celebration of the Medal of Valor award (April 23, 2025).
- Formal expression of mourning for Wick’s death.
- Instruction to present the resolution to Specialist Zaid Abdullah.
Bottom line
- H 4331 is an honorary concurrent resolution adopted by the South Carolina General Assembly to recognize K-9 Wick’s courageous service, mark his posthumous Medal of Valor, and formally mourn his death. It conveys official appreciation but carries no legal or fiscal effects.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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