--- title: HR 849. Mapes, Trooper First Class; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr849 cite_as: HR 849, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr849 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr849.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr849/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71857 date: 2025-03-28 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr848.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr850.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr849.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 849 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-28 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Bill Hitchens text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR849/2025 upstream_id: 2016649 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - law enforcement recognition - Georgia State Patrol - legislative honors - public safety --- # HR 849. Mapes, Trooper First Class; commend ## Text 25 LC 112 3560 House Resolution 849 By: Representative Hitchens of the 161st A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Trooper First Class Mapes; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, on the evening of November 30, 2024, Trooper First Class (TFC) Mapes and2 his trainee, Trooper Cadet South, were patrolling Interstate 20 westbound in Rockdale3 County; and 4 WHEREAS, they observed two vehicles traveling over 100 mph, mat ching each other's5 speed, and clearly displaying signs of racing; and 6 WHEREAS, the vehicles immediately exited off the interstate ont o Sigman Road; one7 vehicle continued straight northbound, while the second vehicle quickly turned right into the8 gas station; and 9 WHEREAS, the second vehicle came to a sudden stop, the driver a nd passenger doors10 immediately flung open, and both occupants jumped out and fled on foot; and 11 WHEREAS, both TFC Mapes and Cadet South immediately sprung into action and gave12 chase, with Cadet South pursuing the driver and TFC Mapes pursuing the passenger; and13 H. R. 849 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3560 WHEREAS, TFC Mapes began to close the distance, and at some poi nt, the passenger14 produced a handgun and began firing at him; and 15 WHEREAS, after being fired upon by the violator, without hesita tion, with complete16 disregard for his own life, and with only the safety of the general public in mind, TFC Mapes17 began to engage the violent suspect with his service weapon; and 18 WHEREAS, in an act that could only be described as incredibly c ourageous and showing19 immense intestinal fortitude, TFC Mapes continued to engage the suspect even after being20 struck by gunfire himself; and 21 WHEREAS, in a split second, Trooper Cadet South made the decisi on to let the driver go22 and, without any hesitation and with complete disregard for his own life and safety, ran23 toward active gunfire to support and aid TFC Mapes; and 24 WHEREAS, the heroism displayed by these law enforcement professionals is nothing short25 of extraordinary; and26 WHEREAS, TFC Mapes' efficient and effective commitment to excel lence has been27 recognized through the many decorations and awards he has recei ved, including the28 International Association of Chief's of Police South Region Trooper of the Year Award and29 the Trooper of the Year for the United States; and30 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that gratitude is expressed for the unique and31 often unheralded contributions of local law enforcement profess ionals on behalf of the32 citizens of this state.33 H. R. 849 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3560 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that34 the members of this body commend the care, courage, sympathy, a nd selfless dedication35 exhibited by Trooper First Class Mapes in carrying out the difficult duties of his vocation and36 express their utmost appreciation for having so purely and trul y defined for others the37 meaning of public servant.38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized39 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution ava ilable for distribution to40 Trooper First Class Mapes. 41 H. R. 849 - 3 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A House resolution commends Georgia State Trooper First Class Mapes for his actions during a shootout with a fleeing suspect on Interstate 20 in Rockdale County in November 2024. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors Trooper First Class Mapes for his conduct during a November 30, 2024 incident on Interstate 20 in Rockdale County. According to the resolution, Mapes and his trainee, Cadet South, stopped two vehicles suspected of racing, and when the occupants fled on foot, a passenger shot at Mapes, who returned fire and kept engaging the suspect even after being struck by gunfire himself. The resolution states that Mapes has received awards including the International Association of Chiefs of Police South Region Trooper of the Year Award and the national Trooper of the Year award. It formally commends his courage and dedication and directs the Clerk of the House to provide him a copy of the resolution. Resolutions like this have no regulatory effect and do not change Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally commends Trooper First Class Mapes for his courage and conduct during a November 30, 2024 shooting incident on Interstate 20. - Recounts the incident in which Mapes was shot at and returned fire while pursuing a fleeing suspect, and continued after being struck himself. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Trooper Mapes. - Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute; it is a ceremonial expression of appreciation by the House. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Trooper First Class Mapes of the Georgia State Patrol. It also references his trainee, Trooper Cadet South, and reflects on law enforcement officers generally, though it creates no legal obligations for any group. ### Why it matters While the resolution has no legal effect on Georgians, it is an official record of the House recognizing a specific act of law enforcement heroism, and it directs an official copy be given to the officer honored. ### Key provisions - Whereas clauses describe the November 30, 2024 incident on Interstate 20 in Rockdale County involving suspected racing, a foot chase, and gunfire exchanged between a suspect and TFC Mapes. - Notes TFC Mapes' prior awards, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police South Region Trooper of the Year Award and the national Trooper of the Year award. - The resolving clause formally commends Mapes' care, courage, sympathy, and dedication. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to TFC Mapes. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-28) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-28) - Sponsors: Bill Hitchens - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71857 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr849.md?full=1