Lance Corporal Jesse Timmons has never sought recognition for a job well done. Whether ministering to his congregation, assisting motorists as a South Carolina state trooper — and even saving the life of a man who was on fire, his motivation is to serve others.

“I’m encountering a lot of people on their worst day, and that’s an opportunity to minister,” said Timmons, who was ordained in 2012. A 2023 nominee for Trooper of the Year, Timmons uses his experiences to show compassion to those who often are at their lowest. 

Though his life is steeped in service, Timmons’ journey to joining the ranks of the SC Highway Patrol was far from linear. In 1993, while studying machine tool technology at Florence Darlington Technical College, he decided to enlist in the military. 

“My best friend told me he was planning on joining the Marine Corps,” Timmons said. “He asked, ‘You want to do it?’ and I said, ‘Yeah!’”

Timmons’ military service saw him stationed at Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station in North Carolina, with deployments to Guantanamo Bay and Puerto Rico. Little did Timmons know that his experience in the Marine Corps would prepare him for a career in law enforcement.

“I missed that military lifestyle, the camaraderie with other people,” he said. “That was one thing that drew me to Highway Patrol years later. The things you learn in the Marine Corps — the discipline, the training — they carry over and help.” 

After serving six years in the military, Timmons decided to complete his degree. However, he felt like God was leading him to do something more. While taking online classes, he began pastoring at Bay Branch Free Will Baptist Church in Timmonsville.

“It definitely has influenced how I interact with people,” Timmons said of leaning on his time and experiences as a pastor. “I think it has helped me stay cool and calm. I’m reminded that we’re all human beings. We all make mistakes.”

While pastoring in Florence County, Timmons heard a recruitment ad on the radio that piqued his interest in the South Carolina Highway Patrol. He joined in 2016, and the work-life balance of the Highway Patrol allowed him to balance his new career with family life and occasional pastoral duties. 

On any given day while patrolling the roadways of Darlington and Marlboro counties, Timmons may be working collisions, conducting traffic stops, educating motorists about traffic laws and safe habits, or even comforting someone who just received the news of a loved one’s death in a collision. Troopers are told that they may never see the results of their work or know how many lives they saved. But one night on patrol, Timmons saw those results firsthand.

While responding to a collision in Darlington County, Timmons came across a car engulfed in flames on the side of the highway. 

“I came around the corner and I just saw this big ball of fire out of nowhere,” Timmons recalled. “All the woods and the car were on fire, and this guy was rolling around on the ground trying to get the fire off him. His shirt was actually burned off of him.”

Acting swiftly, Timmons used his fire extinguisher to put out the blaze. Fortunately, the man, who was putting gas in his car at the time, suffered only a minor burn on his arm. Timmons called EMS to ensure the man was all right. 

“I just happened to be at the right place at the right time,” said Timmons, who finished his shift as usual without mentioning the fiery incident to any of his coworkers.  

“I didn’t think about telling anybody,” he said. “Then I had to turn in my fire extinguisher and get a new one. My corporal was like, ‘What happened?’ So I had to tell him.”

For Timmons’ courage, quick thinking, and modest attitude, he was named the 2023 Trooper of the Year for Troop 5, and was a finalist for the statewide award. However, he does not accept credit for his actions and instead thanks a higher power. 

“I encounter a lot of people on their worst day, like that man on fire,” Timmons said. “I might not be preaching at a church, but that’s an opportunity for me to share the gospel or pray. I’ve had times when I’m sitting in the car taking someone to jail, and they’ve asked me to pray with them. I really owe God everything.”