ODOM WINS THE SOLICITOR’S AWARD FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT EXCELLENCE

When the Gaffney Police Department has a tough case to solve, they often leave the work to Sgt. Billy Odom.

The veteran police officer’s success and dedication to his profession earned him the 2007 Solicitor’s Award for Cherokee County Law Enforcement Excellence. Odom accepted the award at the law enforcement appreciation dinner tonight at the Cherokee Shrine Club.

Odom was the lead detective on the multi-jurisdictional investigation into Jonathan Byers, a local teen suspected of sexually assaulting three women during a week-long crime spree last December in the city of Gaffney. Byers is charged with three counts of burglary in the first degree and three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree.

Odom also served as the lead the detective in the April death investigation of Chauncey L. Wilson, 32, of Gaffney. Odom’s work resulted in the arrest of Talvin Johnson who has been charged with murder, burglary, and armed robbery.

“Billy is persistent and relentless,” Solicitor Trey Gowdy said. “On a daily basis, he works difficult job and makes it look easy. He definitely makes the city of Gaffney a safer place to live and work.”

Odom’s prize package includes a nice plaque, a $100 gift certificate to Hamrick’s and two tickets to a Carolina Panthers football game. He will also have his name added to a plaque that hangs in the Cherokee County Solicitor’s Office.

A committee of police officers from city, county and state agencies nominated and named the Cherokee County winner. The finalists for the award – Jonathon Gash of the Blacksburg Police Department, Sgt. Billy Anthony of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Senior Trooper E. D. McAbee of the Highway Patrol – were recognized at the banquet. The Rev. James Clark and his wife, Linda, were recognized for their service to the sheriff’s office and the community.

Generous donations by some community leaders helped make the dinner a success. The donor list includes American Community Bank; Applebees: Associates Bookkeeping & Tax Service; Boys & Girls Club of the Upstate; Bargain Shoes; Belk; Bill Mason Enterprises (McDonald’s); BMW; Bronco Mexican Restaurant; Bruster’s; Burns Chevrolet, Carousel Music, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep; Cherokee Shrine Club; Daddy Joes; Danny Stacy; Dover’s Diner; Ed Mabry; Fatz Café; Hamrick’s; Harley Davidson of Spartanburg; Holiday Inn Express; Hollywood’s Productions; Magic Nails; Nestle; Prime Outlets; Retail Sports Marketing; The Palmetto Bank; Tide Car Wash; Travis Bell Photography; Upstate Carolina Medical Center; Wal-Mart and WYFF television.

“I appreciate the community’s willingness to support such a worthy cause,” Gowdy said. “Police officers and their families richly deserve a night of rest and relaxation for the many sacrifices they make to keep the community safe.”