The State Law Enforcement Division launched an investigation into Chester’s finances after an initial investigation and the suspension of the three police officers, News & Reporter revealed on February 23.
News & Reporter, one of Post and Courier’s partners in “Uncovered”, reported for the first time in January that SLED was conducting a preliminary investigation in the city. An SLED spokesman confirmed to the newspaper on Tuesday that the investigation had turned into a full and active investigation.
When news of the investigation surfaced, Chester Mayor Wanda Stringfellow announced the appointment of an interim police chief. It was later revealed that police chief Eric Williams and two of his officers were suspended, according to reports by editor Travis Jenkins about the investigation.
The News & Reporter also revealed that Williams and his officers filed formal complaints and claimed that the discipline administered to them was done for political reasons.
The complete News & Reporter story and other coverage can be found here.
Through “Uncovered,” the Post and Courier is teaming up with community newspapers across South Carolina to report on questionable government conduct. So far, a dozen newspapers have joined the effort.
Any of its meetings since the suspension. The city’s finance committee held a meeting in January, during which finances in the police department were discussed. Specifically, accountant Marc Wood noted that the police department was over budget at that point in vehicle repairs and that he did not have a good handle on how many vehicles the department is currently renting. The full council discussed the issue of police vehicle repairs and “provisional positions in the police department” at the executive session again on Monday. The public safety committee met last week, but clearing time, police car repairs and a traffic light problem were the main topics of discussion.
Catch up Glenn Smith at 843-937-5556. Follow him on Twitter @ glennsmith5.