Files detail trooper misdeeds
Reports confirm misconduct but also often exonerate officers
COLUMBIA — The files paint a portrait of an agency with troubles: state troopers abusing suspects, stealing equipment, taking money from Hispanic motorists and sabotaging in-car video cameras to hide their actions.
These internal affairs reports, requested by the state Senate and obtained by The Post and Courier through the Freedom of Information Act, will be evidence and ammunition in the confirmation hearings for the new director of the Department of Public Safety.
Video
Motorcycle Crash
Lance Corporal R.S. Ashe collides with a motorcycle that is fleeing from another state trooper on Aviation Avenue in North Charleston on June 18, 2006.
The documents show that the videos of trooper abuse made public earlier this year, showing brutality and racial slurs, were not isolated incidents.
-- Since 2004, two troopers have been fired for taking money from Hispanic motorists they pulled over for traffic stops. The troopers, one of whom had four complaints against him, admitted to taking $500 from a man under the auspices of collecting fines or bonds. Lance Cpl. E.C. Stevens was fired after he confessed in an interview with the State Law Enforcement Division.
-- Trooper W.K. Pierce was arrested and accused of misconduct in office for taking money from motorists between 20 and 50 times. He was caught and fired after Hispanics in Richland County filed complaints against him. He admitted in a SLED interview to taking the money.
-- In June 2006, Lance Cpl. R.S. Ashe struck a motorcyclist fleeing another trooper with his cruiser, throwing the man over the top of the car. The man was running from a traffic stop on Aviation Avenue in North Charleston because, he said, he was carrying marijuana. Ashe was ordered to attend a counseling session on safety.
-- In February 2005, Lance Cpl. D.L. Chapman kicked and stomped a suspect who had tried to elude troopers and crashed his car into another officer's cruiser. Chapman was indicted by a Spartanburg County grand jury on charges of assault and battery and misconduct in office, and retired from the Highway Patrol. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of misconduct and was sentenced to four years of probation.
Video
Suspect is kicked
After a car chase in February 2005, Lance Cpl. D.L. Chapman is seen kicking and stomping the area where the suspect Phong Van Nguyen is laying on the ground. As a second trooper helps Nguyen to his feet, Chapman strikes Nguyen on the head.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, who requested the DPS files for a legislative subcommittee, said he has a team of lawyers poring through the documents to formulate questions for the upcoming confirmation hearings for Maj. Mark Keel, Gov. Mark Sanford's choice to take over the agency.
McConnell said that while there are some disturbing incidents in the Highway Patrol's internal affairs reports, it seems the system is working. In many cases, the reports exonerate troopers.
"By and large, the Highway Patrol is a fine agency," said McConnell, R-Charleston. "They've had their problems and they've dealt with them. It looks like there wasn't a good flow of information up the chain of command."
McConnell said the Senate's questions for Keel will be largely inquiries of how he would handle things better in the patrol.
Months of trouble
Under pressure from Sanford, James K. Schweitzer, who led the agency since 2004, and Highway Patrol Col. Russell Roark stepped down Feb. 29.
The Legislative Black Caucus made a first round of videotapes public that same day, after years of its concerns being brushed aside by Schweitzer and others, caucus leaders said.
The videos, obtained in the last few months by the newspaper, show troopers on two occasions hitting fleeing suspects with their cruisers, one in Greenwood County with a trooper yelling at a suspect, "You better run, (n-word), I'm fixin' to kill you." Still another video showed a trooper handcuffing a woman to the bumper of a patrol car and later leaving her alone on the side of the road.
The reports released Friday show that many complaints against troopers are unfounded. In several incidents where troopers fired their guns, the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility showed that the officers were warranted in shooting. In one case, a trooper shot a man who had pulled an AK-47 on him.
Another complaint was filed against a trooper in Anderson County, and claimed he had groped a female motorist during a stop. The onboard video camera in his cruiser showed that he did nothing improper. In internal memos, one agency employee noted that the person who made the complaint "should be shot."
Other claims are more ambiguous. One trooper claimed that he was asked to dismiss tickets by two state lawmakers, but investigators called the claims second-hand and there was no disposition to the case. One group of Highway Patrol employees accused one another of misconduct in the department's shop, including stealing spare parts or working on personal vehicles during work hours. The outcome of the internal investigation was unclear from the records.
Related stories
In other cases, however, troopers were accused of everything of using profanity around motorists, one resulting in a five-day suspension, and discussing confidential matters. One trooper received counseling for using his flashlight to hit a suspect in the head, giving him an injury that required medical treatment.
A few troopers, including Trooper John B. Sawyer, were reprimanded for turning off their in-car video cameras during traffic stops or erasing tapes. Sawyer allegedly threw a man on the hood of his car.
A few bad apples
State Sen. Robert Ford, one of the lawmakers who has helped publicize the action of state troopers in recent months, said that although some of the videos "will make you cry," he is certain that the Highway Patrol has simply been a victim of a few bad officers casting a shadow on the department.
"All of this was done by less than 5 percent of the troopers," Ford said. "All 50 states have these problems or worse. We're going to be the first state to fix these problems."
The Senate's investigation will be the latest to join ongoing probes. The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, along with the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office in South Carolina and SLED, also are investigating.
Sid Gaulden, director of the Public Safety Office of Executive Affairs, has said the investigations won't find a pattern of misconduct among troopers, who make about 500,000 traffic stops each year.
The Post and Courier has reviewed close to 200 internal affairs investigations conducted, dating back to 2004.
Since 2007, about 240 complaints were made against troopers. Of those, 51 had merit, and 101 cases are still under review by the agency. Sixty-one complaints were made against troopers in 2005. Complaints for 2004 and earlier also include those made against the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
Senators also will examine allegations of favoritism within the agency and whether punishments were consistent, among other potential situations. Senate leaders said they will make sure problems in the Highway Patrol are addressed before confirming a new Public Safety director.
"This creates concern among the people," McConnell said, "and our job is to restore confidence."
Reach Brian Hicks at 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com. Reach Yvonne Wenger at ywenger@postandcourier.com or 803-799-9051.
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Comments
whalernut (anonymous) says...
Wow!
High speed chases and shoot outs and beatings.
This comes as a new suprise?
Does any one remember 10 or so years ago when the trooper attacked the lady on I-95.
That made the today show.
These men and ladies have difficult jobs and mistakes are sometimes made. I dont belive that all the blame should be made on the troppers but more like in the governers house.
Poor pay, long hours, large territories to patrol and obviouse poor training and management are the real things to blame. They need more funding and more qualified people managing.
Wake up and smell da bacon opps coffee.
April 26, 2008 at 6 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
"This creates concern among the people," McConnell said, "and our job is to restore confidence."
Big Mac is going to restore my confidence?
Okay-what's the punch line?
April 26, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cbrooks85259 (anonymous) says...
I'm not quite sure what the protocol is for the highway patrol, but I don't believe that it is a "misdeed" for a trooper to shoot a subject after the subject shot at him with an AK-47, but thats just me.
April 26, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
"The reports...show...many complaints...are unfounded. In several incidents where troopers fired their guns, the... Office of Professional Responsibility showed...officers were warranted in shooting. In one case, a trooper shot a man who had pulled an AK-47 on him."
cbroooks--did you read the entire paragraph? The trooper who shot at the AK subject was not deemed to have done a "misdeed". I think the protocol is that all shootings by LEO are investigated to make sure it was appropriate...& often it is, like in the AK incident.
April 26, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinadude (anonymous) says...
abitskeptical:
I certainly agree with you and with the internal investigation regarding the ak47 incident. This trooper had the guy at a traffic stop, instructed him to "get back in the jeep" and the suspect drove off firing an ak47. Our troopers are our "public safety". The "politically correct whackos" that don't want our officers to forecfully defend our safety should just "love or leave" our land of the free and home of the brave.
April 26, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
woodrob12 (anonymous) says...
Why show the video of Officer Jones, who was cleared of any wrong doing and did nothing but act professionally against an obviously dangerous man? Don't lump the good officers in with stories of the bad.
April 26, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iculukin (anonymous) says...
carolinadude is right. Everyone is so quick to bad mouth the police. You should be in their shoes for a few days. Visit a school and see the disrespect kids have for authority there. The older they get the more disrespect they have. The more articles about how bad cops are just adds to the problem. Who you gonna call when you get in a fix? The P&C? Doubt it! I know there are bad cops out there, but there are more good ones than bad. Most of these scumbag criminals that you listed in the article were deserving of the special attention they got.
April 26, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollnwflo (anonymous) says...
Rules of the road:
When stopped by any law enforcement officer, the only thing that comes out of your mouth should be Yes Sir, No Sir, and not much else.
I haven't been abused (other than silly tickets, 57 in a 55)because I won't give them a reason or excuse. I've been taunted, ridiculed, and disrespected, but not beat or shot. I consider being on the side of the road with a officer one of the most dangerous places in this state, so I act accordingly.
Having said all of that, I'm still glad we have people willing to do this work, I just wish they would be professional in their work.
April 26, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iculukin (anonymous) says...
They have no reason to treat me like a suspect. These aren't law abiding citizens that we're talking about. Have you ever been on a high speed chase? Respect was once something that you earned, when your parents had those morals, but unfortunately thats not the way of the world any longer.
April 26, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
svilleswampfox (anonymous) says...
These 3 incidents don't belong in the same article in my opinion. The article had a title with the word "misdeeds" and subtitles of "Months of trouble" and "A few bad apples", suggesting all bad stuff, and it wasn't all bad.
- The officer in the shootout did what I think he should have done, except it's too bad the suspect apparently lived. I'd call this one good.
- The guy they hit in the head - this looked ridiculous all the way around, starting with ramming the guy's car in the beginning. We don't see what happened before the footage started, but ramming into the car didn't seem necessary. This one is negative to me.
- Hitting the motorcycle head-on seemed like a bit of overkill. Maybe the trooper wanted to pull sideways in front of him and misjudged the bike's speed. Overall, I'd call this one neutral.
I'm sure the liberal courts, populace, and this site's posters won't agree with me. I'll try not to lose any sleep over that.
April 26, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MMitchum (anonymous) says...
As in all professions you have the bad apples. Try Drs., Lawyers, and my our.... Senators, and all the way up to Presidents. So don't come down on the whole SCHPTL. It is in every state. So come on Media find something to talk about that we don't know, and let SCHPTL weed them out, because they will for the sake of their departments.
They are doing a great job, with what our poor state has to offer. If we have a bad one...fine, we will get him sooner or later and he will be removed and get his dues from the same laws that put him there.
SO GO SCHPTL......I STAND BEHIND YOU NOT IN FRONT!
April 26, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willx45x (anonymous) says...
Careers in local and state law enforcement typically attract some of the least capable, least intelligent, most likely to be corrupted by power individuals in society. Think about it - did you know anybody in HS or college who was smart, capable and ambitious who wanted to be a local cop or state trooper? Probably not. This report is hardly surprising and it's why I have zero respect for the boys in blue.
April 26, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
The info in the article,videos & reports is disturbing, but is not news: There are good & bad people.
I understand the bad behavior of a few, or even of a lot, of officers does not represent all LEO.
There is an element in our population who, for whatever reason, is a thorn in society's side & I am grateful for the protection & policing of these people that LEO everywhere give the rest of us everyday.
HOWEVER, corrupted, outrageous, unlawful behavior from even a few of the very folks who signed on to protect society from that behavior, creates mistrust & fear that is hard to reverse.
Over & over we've told our 5 children "Always do the right thing. Having the benefit of the doubt & a good reputation is priceless. A good reputation can be damaged in less than a second, but once damaged, it will take a long time to repair. That might not seem fair at times, but that is life".
Some have taken to task those who've criticized rogue behavior from positions of authority..
We've been accused of having a bad attitude, "contriving allegations", making opinions on opinion itself rather than facts, having an "overriding concern about bully cops" (as if that is a petty concern)..etc.
I can speak only for myself:
I've based comments on eye witness accounts or info from a LEO relative or friend. We have relatives who are AUSAs(US prosecutors).
My eye witness accounts include:
Being a juror in a big civil trial; watching other civil trials & a criminal trial; reading trial transcripts & a grand jury transcript which revealed prosecutorial misconduct such as lying to the grand jury & deliberating with jurors; being stopped for minor violations (sticker on my license plate fell off)where I was treated like scum; following a person I'd taken to pick up a car who was stopped & treated like a criminal-it was dusk & a head light had burned out.
I have listened to similar accounts from people I know to be gentle & law abiding.
Yes, it is LEO duty to stop any violation, but there is no excuse for lack of discretion,inadvertent or otherwise,in how people are treated.
We have several relatives & friends who are trial attorneys. They also have witnessed police & other figures of authority(gov. agents & their witnesses, LEO, prosecutors, judges) lie & commit perjury in various venues.
**Honorable, lawful, above standard & professional behavior in LEO & others in positions of authority is not to be looked at as "above & beyond the call of duty". It is the BASELINE behavior expected & required of them. It is, in fact, what they signed on for. No one forced them to enter the profession.**
I am grateful to those who bring honor & trust to these professions & truly feel for those who do not deserve the mistrust & dishonor brought on their reputation by others.
April 26, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mollycooper (anonymous) says...
For years I have stood by quiet and watched as our State Troopers have gotten the worst treatment ever seen in law enforcement, so now I am going to say it all.
As a person who personally knows a State Trooper, everyone needs to understand that they really have a dangerous job. These troopers are very underpaid, even after over 20 years of service.
Why is everyone harping on them? I ask any of you would you put yourself in their shoes and pull people over on the side of the road, approach the car not knowing what to expect from the people inside? Let us not forget the ones that have been killed by just approaching the car. How about Corporal Kenneth "Jeff" Johnson, he approached the passenger side and was shot and died. Do you remember F.L. 'Frankie" Lingard who was shot and killed on I-95.
These are two tragedies that my Trooper friend was greatly affected by. Do we hear about these over and over? No, because they are not as newsworthy, at least to the news media. Let's stop this media trashing and look for ways to weed out the bad seeds.
The news media needs to look closer to home at their own city and town police. These officers often make allot more money than the State Troopers and do not deal with our Interstate challenges. I challenge the media to find out why our State Trooper's pay is one of the lowest of any in the United States?
If our governor really appreciated the State Troopers, he would bring their pay up to the national level, instead of being one of the lowest in the United States on the pay scale.
The media is giving ALL State Troopers a false stigma that is not necessarily correct.
Do you know that these Troopers do not get extra pay when they have to work for the Ladson Fair, Carolina Football Games, Clemson Football Games or Darlington Race. How about the motorcycle rallies in Myrtle Beach? NO! They usually have to work later then their 12 hour shift and then drive home, even if it is two to three hours away. No OVERTIME, this is per the governor. These events used to pay the Troopers for there services, but now it goes to the state. They receive no compensation for this extra work.
How would you feel not getting paid for this extra work for the State? I could go on but, I think I have said enough for you to get the point I am trying to make. So come on Media, take the challenge and find out what other States pay their Troopers? You will discover that ours is one of the lowest, even lower than most of the city and town police forces.
April 26, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Roger1978 (anonymous) says...
The video is the motorcycle is AWESOME that is what you get when you flee from the cops. Too bad he walked away from that crash.
SUPPORT YOU LOCAL STATE TROOPERS, SUPPORT THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL.
April 26, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chucktonian (anonymous) says...
if you run from the police, you deserve what you get. I watched all the videos and did not find anything objectionable . the moron on the motorcycle deserved a good tazing after he was cuffed.
people that are squealing and wetting their pants over these videos don't realize what's going on out there. the only thing these crackhead animals respond to is physical pain. they have to be checked.
we need to bring back the billy clubs. run from the cops: you deserve what you get. Rodney King wouldn't have been beaten to a pulp if he hadn't resisted arrest.
April 26, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Roger1978 (anonymous) says...
Raregar67, if there was an award for stupidity you have won it. Clerk at a gas station being more dangerous than being a cop? Yes cops "volunteer" for their jobs, just like every job in this country, no one if forced into any type of work. But cops are the only ones that have people try to kill them just b/c they're cops, they get shot not only doing their job but sometimes (like in Tampa, Fl recently) they are shot for just sitting in their cop car and being a cop. The store clerk is an obstacle to get to $$ and not the target, that is not true with violence against law enforcement.
But maybe you would feel safer if the cops carried pink fuzzy handcuffs and billy clubs like british bobbies. They do a dirty job and have to get dirty sometimes, something you probably know nothing about sitting at home safe in your house. And when something goes wrong, who you going to call? The store clerk who has the more dangerous job or the cop who is going to save your azz?
April 26, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
svilleswampfox (anonymous) says...
Well said (typed), Roger1978.
April 26, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
We Should support Our Troopers. They do a fine job..They make 100 thousand plus traffic stops a year and very few complaints. I say Thank You and Be safe..
A while back I watched as a Trooper hit a guy on the head with a shotgun as he tried to get up. Everyone thought it was wrong.... Can I ask everyone what else could he have done? ........."Sir Could you wait to resist unti I put my shotgun back at the car.....
They are doing the best they can with what they have. Please call your lawmakers to support the billS1006 that will give Health and Dental benefits to offiers families killed in the line of duty.. Thank You. Be Safe! Weed The bad ones out and support the Good ones.
April 26, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mollycooper (anonymous) says...
Roger1978 thank you for defending the State Troopers from Raregar67. Obviously he needs to call the store clerk or the taxi cab driver when he needs help. Of course he is like the rest of kooks in this world, he would rather call 9mm instead of 911. Maybe the taxi driver and store clerk will run right over and help him when he has a flat tire on the Interstate in the rain, but oh he would dial his 9mm on them. Real Responsible.
State Troopers only patrol our Interstates and state maintained secondary roads. Their job is much more dangerous on a back road in Berkley, Dorchester, or Charleston counties. Why because they need to patrol these areas for the idiots and drunks that speed dangerously on these roads.
Have you not seen that the accidents that happen more are on secondary roads in the county? Who do you think works these roads? Wake up, we need these men and women to make our roads safer. Do not just call the Troopers Public Safety, they are more than that.
I guess you don't care about our police and Troopers. Well allot of men, women and children do, because it is their family that is out there doing a job that obviously you would not do.
Raregar67 are you one of the idiots on those secondary roads that our Troopers are looking for? Make sure you have your 911 on the seat beside you. Then watch out for the automatic glock 45 that Troopers now carry to be pulled for you.
April 26, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lenny (anonymous) says...
willx45x- leave your uninformed mind at home, most LEO have more initiative and are able to think on their feet faster than most professions... think about this officers start their shift woth one mandate stop crime, not do this report or file these papers or sell these items, and they work at it each day... And as for corruptible why do you think when an officer goes bad it makes headlines but when a doctor is sued for malpractice nothing is mentioned or when a clerk is caught stealing from a store nothing is mentioned? It's because it is out of character for the boys in blue not a normal occurence jacka##... Yes, there are bad apples and they get rooted out fairly quickly... next time you are in trouble who are you gonna call?
April 26, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
idguy (anonymous) says...
most comments here are about par. however, the people making remarks about police being unprofessional should be made to do their job for a month in the worst zones to patrol. yes, there are some police who are arrogant and rude without provocation. however, there are plenty of people on the streets who don't respond to any kind on professional behavior. has anyone ever had to have a conversation with someone when they are screaming at the top of their lungs, using profanity, and steadily becoming more demonstrative when you ask them nicely to calm down. it is not easy. as for the individual who asserted that most police just become officers for some sort of power trip and lack education. most officers i know have college degrees and not just ones in easy fields of learning. most officers i know have an overwhelming sense of justice and to see said justice served while protecting society. i would conclude that your problem with police is that you have either been arrested by law enforcement or are engaged in criminal activity and have not been caught yet. just my opinion.
April 26, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
Thomas1776, I don't know what your beef is with Glenn McConnell, but he is a very honorable man. He can't cure all of the problems concerning the government all by himself.
I seriously don't believe that you would be happy with anyone in office, even if you placed them there personally.
April 26, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Lenny--you are kinda going all over the place & in the process you are not making your point.
1st of all, malpractice suits against doctors are civil, not criminal actions. Rarely if ever does a malpractice suit involve fraud & it certainly is not an indicator that the doctor has "gone bad". Being "sued for malpractice" can & does happen to some of the best physicians. Further, some incompetent physicians have many times not been sued when they deserved to be sued.
2ndly, there is no comparison between a dishonest & thieving store clerk & a "cop gone bad". Last I heard, a store clerk does not take an oath to uphold the constitutions of the US & SC & the laws of their jurisdiction. (neither do physicians).
Clearly, it does NOT always make the headlines(at least right away) when a officer "goes bad".
Isn't there something referred to as the "thin blue line". The brotherhood & loyalty that they feel for one another is admirable. But, the professional loyalty & protectiveness should not function to numb the collective conscience of the profession, as it often has, not only in law enforcement, but also other professions such as law & medicine, who also have been known to "protect their own". There is not a good history of policing their own in any of these professions mentioned.
I agree that willx45's comments are not fair & do not apply to all LEO. Unfortunately there has been enough misconduct in various agencies & departments that there seems to be more than an isolated problem here & there.
Defensiveness about this is not the answer. The public trust has been violated & abused by some & now the ones who have been doing their jobs properly all along have even more work to do--is that fair? No, but much of life is not fair. The good guys need to remain diligent.
April 26, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
idguy- you asked "has anyone ever had to have a conversation with someone when they are screaming at the top of their lungs, using profanity, and steadily becoming more demonstrative when you ask them nicely to calm down"...
ER doctors & nurses do this all the time, so they actually understand this situation very well. However, unless the patient has been brought in by a LEO, they do not have the 'luxery' of handcuffs & a sidearm at their immediate disposal.
No doubt some have problems with police for the reasons you mentioned, but one does not need to be a criminal to have a problem with abuse of power & authority.
April 26, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
RTC--hello again..I agree with you about McConnell. I do not agree with everything he does. However, I know him to be earnest & honest. He lives modestly & drove the same car for 25 years.
April 26, 2008 at 6:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
idguy (anonymous) says...
abitskeptical- never suggested that police were the only ones who get the brunt of verbal abuse. my sympathies go out to doctors, nurses, social workers, and members of all civil service industries---except when doctors overcharge for the bill(smile). as for the last comment, most people who have problems with the police do have some sort of run ins with the law or some percieved ax to grind. it is the nature of the job. the police don't always deal with nice citizens. this excludes the average citizen who may just be having a bad day.
April 26, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
idguy..ER docs don't bill individuals..they are paid by the hospital...so its alright for you to still have sympathy for them :)
April 26, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
excalibur (anonymous) says...
Pitiful...just pitiful
April 26, 2008 at 8:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
abitskeptical, hello to you too. Yes, I don't always agree with Glenn either, and I tell him so.
He is really such a nice guy, doesn't act better than anyone else, and he does care about our state, particularly the lowcountry. People don't realize how much crap he has to put up with in Columbia to try to get things done for us down here.
I want to find out more about Wilson and Jennings before the election. If you know of some websites, or other sources that are reliable, please let me know.
April 26, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mollycooper (anonymous) says...
raregar67
I don't need to use spell-check, but you do.
"to being the agent resposible for my safety, I suggest you read the 2nd ammendment and use spellcheck. It's the Lord's Day; peace to one AND ALL." 'spellcheck' 'resposible'
'ammendment'
You are an irresponsible impossible idiot. Why don't you get a Webster's Dictionary.
By the way it is spell-check, responsible & amendment.
You must live on that secondary county hick road.
April 26, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
outrage (anonymous) says...
willx45x - I feel sorry for you. It must be hard to carry all that hate around.
You should go on a ride-a-long and see what we do for a living.
I don't think I remember you from college. What was your major?
April 26, 2008 at 11:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
YankeeLiberal (anonymous) says...
To all who justify (or try to) police brutality as part of the job, as if you can't police effectively without (among other things): hitting a fleeing suspect with your patrol car, hitting a suspect on his motorcycle with your patrol car, handcuffing an African-American woman to her car and then leaving her on the side of the road, telling a suspect "You better run, n_____er, I'm fixing to kill you!"...
Police brutality is as illegal as the crimes you apprehend for and prosecute, police officers are not above the law. I've never lived anywhere else where police brutality is as accepted as it is (at least by Causcasian folks) as it is here. Not sure my daughters will spend the rest of their childhood here, how do explain institutional racism to young kids???
April 27, 2008 at 12:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
outrage (anonymous) says...
JohnQ - Most of us are ex-military
We are headed down a "slippery slope" when the people feel they have to defend themselves from the police.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
"by dressing like military wanna bees".
WHAT LOCAL AGENCY DRESSES LIKE THAT?
People don't respond well to the "thug" image the police put forward.
IS IT MILITARY WANNA BEES OR THUGS?
treat all citizens like suspects need to be weeded out.
WHEN WE RESPOND TO SOMETHING, OR PULL OVER A VEHICLE - EVERYBODY IS A SUSPECT UNTIL WE FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON!
We need police who are our neighbors and friends, not "Ninja/Military wannabee goof balls".
I AM SURE IF WE MET, WE WOULD BE FRIENDLY. ESPECIALLY IF YOU STOP CALLING ME NAMES!
April 27, 2008 at 12:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
outrage (anonymous) says...
YankeeLiberal - You sir, are a race baiter or just got home from the bar!
April 27, 2008 at 12:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
outrage (anonymous) says...
poli1471 - I'm a Yankee, but definitely not a liberal.
April 27, 2008 at 12:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
YankeeLiberal (anonymous) says...
Not a race baiter (Obama will be next, though, not Hillary, we are excited), and not a drinker either (just pulled in from buying groceries at Walmart), just trying to figure out why people try to justify police brutality...is it one's education level, or upbringing?? For the life of us, my wife and I just can't our minds around justification of police brutality. Got a couple of college buds who became cops (one a town cop, and one a state police sgt. who busts drug runners), so no hostility toward LEO's in general...neither one of use has any priors, no criminal record...
And yes, poli1471, despite a lot of friendly people, warm weather, great cuisine, and the ocean, blatant racism that we've seen in the last couple of years might be enough to send us packing. If you think this behavior is ok, and it doesn't outrage you, Hillary or anyone else won't help you.
April 27, 2008 at 12:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
outrage (anonymous) says...
FellowYankee - I don't condone any Police misconduct and hope that those who commit violations are punished accordingly. To say all cops are bad, is upsetting to the upstanding. Every time a LEO screws up, the rest of us have to work even harder to do our jobs because of the distrust caused by a very few.
I have had
Hundreds of arrests.
Thousands of tickets written.
ZERO complaints!
A thank you every blue moon - PRICELESS!
April 27, 2008 at 1:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
outrage (anonymous) says...
poli1471 - Be safe! Goodnight to all.
April 27, 2008 at 1:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
YankeeLiberal (anonymous) says...
You deserve thanks from all of us law abiding citizens then, Outrage. When we hear (or read) people trying to explain away police brutality away as if it's acceptable (or even joke about it??), it feeds outrage. Your voice of reason is refreshing, as is your belief that you can do a job that most of us could not handle without resorting to racism or brutality or extortion.
April 27, 2008 at 1:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
Posted by outrage on April 27, 2008 at 1:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
FellowYankee - I don't condone any Police misconduct and hope that those who commit violations are punished accordingly. To say all cops are bad, is upsetting to the upstanding. Every time a LEO screws up, the rest of us have to work even harder to do our jobs because of the distrust caused by a very few.
I have had
Hundreds of arrests.
Thousands of tickets written.
ZERO complaints!
A thank you every blue moon - PRICELESS!
***Well said Outrage. I would also like to include sometimes force is needed in law enforcement.
April 27, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
simon_birch (anonymous) says...
THESE TROOPER HAVE MADE THEMSELF JUDGE JURY AND EXECUTIONER!THEY ARE MORE OF A MENANCE THAN THE PEOPLE THEY ARE CHASING! THIS COP RAMS THE GUY WHILE HE IS STOPPED! I NEVER ASK A COP FOR ANYTHING ANYMORE. AND I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER ONCE AND I WAS MORE AFFRAID OF WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO AND WHAT KIND OF MOOD HE WAS IN. WAS HE GOING TO PLANT SOMETHING ON ME OR FEEL UP MY WIFE AND DARE ME TO DO SOMETHING AND THEN SAY I STARTED IT! I DON'T TRUST ANY OF THEM ANYMORE! SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA ARE THE WORSE I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY. I THINK IT IS A POLICE STATE MORE AND MORE. THEY HAVE THE TOTAL POWER AND SAY SO AND THE GUN! IT WILL GET WORST TOO PEOPLE...JUST WATCH.USE TO BE IT WAS HARD TO TELL WHO THE ENEMY WAS, NOT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE UNIFORM AND BADGE!! KARMA....OFFICERS...KARMA.
April 27, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Roger1978 (anonymous) says...
Raregar67 aka moron. Please enlighten me as to where these stats are. I am very familiar with the stats on line of duty deaths and violence against law enforcement due to my profession which is something you obviously know nothing about. Now lets see, spell check, I guess I messed something up while typing a comment on the internet? Thank you English teacher, I guess that's all you have. But I would like to apologize, I'm sure when ur working the night shift at the 7-11 your very afraid but don't worry 911 is only 3 numbers so its easy for YOU to remember. Cause I know your not going to call a fellow stop and rob cashier to save your butt, you'll call the cops.
But please I will be looking forward to hearing from you about those stats; www.ODMP.org will give you what you need to know about cops. And we're not just talking about the SCHP which regardless what this liberal newspaper prints is full of professionals. You have a good night there bud.
April 27, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCPDBLUE (anonymous) says...
Mollycooper,Thank you for your support of our troopers and LE. If Robert Ford wants to show the public videos of how bad troopers are,what about showing how bad the public is toward our troopers and our local LE. Not just one video and why not the video of my friend SCHP Trooper Mark Coates
Trooper Mark Hunter Coates
South Carolina Highway Patrol
South Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, November 20, 1992
Biographical Info
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: 709
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, November 20, 1992
Weapon Used: Handgun; .22 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Corporal Coates was shot and killed after stopping a car for weaving in traffic on I-95 near the Georgia border. During the traffic stop the suspect began to struggle with Corporal Coates and they both fell to the ground. The suspect fired a .22 caliber handgun into Corporal Coates' chest, but the round was stopped by his vest.
Corporal Coates was able to force the man off of him and return fire, striking the suspect five times in the chest with his .357 caliber revolver. As he retreated for cover and to radio for backup, the suspect fired another shot. The round struck Trooper Coates in the left armpit and traveled into his heart. The suspect survived the incident and was sentenced to life in prison.
Corporal Coates had been with the South Carolina Highway patrol for 5 years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, parents, sister and brother.
April 27, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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