48822-1:N:03/27/2002:AA/ll LRS2002-19820
WHEREAS, it is with highest commendation that we honor the late Jimmy Hutto, conservation officer and nominee for the 2002 Alabama Legislative Law Enforcement Medal of Honor, Alabama's highest law enforcement award for extraordinary courage in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, deserving of our highest praise and honor is Officer Hutto, who, at a time of risk to his own personal safety, displayed exceptional courage, leadership, and professionalism in defense of and concern for others; and
WHEREAS, on March 8, 2002, Officer Hutto was assisting Sheriff Richard White and the Fayette and Marion County Drug Task Force in executing a drug search warrant; when the officers entered a certain house in the Wayside Community, the resident opened fire and Officer Hutto was shot; and
WHEREAS, although mortally wounded, Officer Hutto was able to crawl behind a refrigerator before the suspect fired three more shots at the entry team; as the suspect retreated to reload his pistol, Officer Hutto managed to crawl several feet, where fellow officers were able to pull him outside the residence; and
WHEREAS, Officer Hutto's willingness to help the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, with the approval of his captain, on a drug raid shows the commitment Officer Hutto made in making his community a safer and better place to live; and
WHEREAS, for his heroic action, Officer Hutto was indeed a worthy exemplar of those caring and dedicated men and women whose brave actions exemplify the highest degree of concern of one human being for another in distress, and he is most deserving of this distinguished award; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, That we hereby most highly honor the late Jimmy Hutto, a conservation officer, as a nominee for the 2002 Alabama Legislative Law Enforcement Medal of Honor, and it is further directed that a copy of this resolution be presented as a measure of our deepest gratitude and esteem.