Duty Death: Michael Latu - [Marion County]
End of Service: 17/12/2019
Police1 Staff
MARION, S.C. — A Marion County sheriff’s deputy died in a single vehicle crash while he was responding to a call.
SCNow reports PFC Michael Shawn Latu’s police cruiser ran off the side of the road and into a bridge support at about 1:05 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Latu was a five-year veteran of the department and had previously served as a dispatcher. In 2018, he was recognized as both Deputy of the Year and Patrolman of the Year.
In a release on Facebook, the Marion County Sheriff’s Department wrote that ‘Mike,’ as Latu was known, was “quiet with a genius level IQ.”
“He was the workhorse of the department and was always eager to help,” the post continued. “The voice left by our brother will never be filled. We ask for your prayers of comfort during this time.”
https://www.facebook.com/1895646070710217/photos/a.1896303267311164/2461645727443579/?type=3&theater
SCNow reports the crash remains under investigation by the state highway patrol and its Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team.