York County turns blue to honor fallen deputy on birthday

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Fort Mill lit up in blue Friday night for York County Det. Mike Doty, who was shot and killed in the line of duty.

Friday would have been Doty’s 38th birthday. People across the area spent the day celebrating Doty’s life.

In Rock Hill, the water tower and Fountain Park were lit up in blue.

Thousands of people who drive a stretch of Carowinds Boulevard near I-77 are now driving on Detective Mike Doty Memorial Highway.

The highway sign was unveiled Friday.

Doty's family and his brothers in blue were there for the honor.

Doty was one of four York County law enforcement officers who was ambushed last month as they searched for a man suspected of beating his wife in the couple’s home.

[First responders pay tribute to fallen York County detective]

[Thousands gather to honor slain York County Det. Mike Doty]

Doty died a day later.

He started working at the York County Sheriff’s Office in May 2006. He was an investigator with the York County Multi-jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit.

The other law enforcement officers injured in the ambush, Sgt. Randy Clinton, Sgt. Buddy Brown and Sgt. Kyle Cummings, have been released from the hospital after going through surgeries.

Cummings and Brown were at the sign unveiling ceremony to honor their fallen comrade.

The state Legislature acted quickly, agreeing to the name change more than a week ago.

"Mike made the ultimate sacrifice. This is just a small, small return that we can memorialize Mike with," York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said at the sign unveiling. "I hope one day we can drive by here and not feel the sadness that we feel today, but one day we can drive by here and feel proud and happy."

Doty joins former York County Officer Brent McCants, who was shot and killed 25 years ago, in having a roadway named for him. A section of Dave Lyle Boulevard in Rock Hill is named for McCants, who was killed there in a traffic stop in September 1992.

Community turns blue for Doty

The York County community made sure to honor Doty and celebrate his birthday in their own special ways.

Sarah Hopfer has been close to the Doty family for years.

Hopfer knew the pain it would be for Doty's family to deal with his birthday, coming so soon after his death. She also felt for his twin brother, Chris Doty.

[PHOTOS: Community honors fallen York Co. deputy on his 38th birthday]

Hopfer went door-to-door, asking Fort Mill businesses to honor Doty by going blue.

"Fort Mill is a very close-knit community," Hopfer said. “I'm born and raised here and everybody has just jumped on board so quickly and is willing to do whatever they can.”

Channel 9 found businesses stringing blue lights and hanging flags and wreaths Thursday in Doty’s honor.

Fort Mill businesses will light up the town blue on Friday night for Doty and his family.

Christina Slone showed her support by bringing cupcakes into the officer where Doty worked. She said she owes him everything. She met him when her son was addicted to opioids.

"We believe he saved our son's life," Slone said. "He was a freshman in high school. It was a Mother's Day of all days in 2012 and he arrested my son."

Slone's son graduated from a drug program a year later and Doty was right there, cheering him on.

"He was amazing. You could tell his heart and his passion were for the kids," Slone said.

The community is also holding fundraisers for Doty's family to help them get through this difficult time.

One business owner told Channel 9 he has raised $3,300.

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