By
Anna Douglas and Jonathan McFadden
York
Police Chief Andy Robinson was suspended without pay for three days last month
after an internal review uncovered several violations of the city’s pursuit
policy during an April 4 high-speed chase of a stolen car, according to
documents obtained by The Herald on Monday.
In
May, City Manager Charlie Helms suspended Robinson for exercising “poor
judgment” by failing to terminate the chase after some officers violated
pursuit policy, according to disciplinary documents. Robinson was suspended on
May 8, 9 and 12.
The
Herald obtained the disciplinary records of Robinson and three other officers
under the state’s Freedom of Information Act. Robinson declined to comment on
Monday afternoon.
After
the chase ended, the car’s driver was arrested. The State Law Enforcement
Division has conducted a separate investigation into Robinson’s use of force
during the arrest. The S.C. 10th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, of Anderson and
Oconee counties, will determine whether charges should be filed after reviewing
SLED conclusions. The city of York’s disciplinary records do not mention
Robinson’s actions during the arrest.
The
disciplinary records obtained by The Herald on Monday show that York Police Lt.
Dale Edwards was also disciplined for his role in the car chase. Edwards was
suspended on May 8, meaning he went without pay for what would have been a
12-hour shift.
Edwards
also declined to comment on Monday.
York
police officials cited several reasons for Edwards’ one-day suspension,
including that he continued to pursue the suspect “at extremely dangerous
speeds” although the suspect appeared “to do anything to prevent capture.”
During
the pursuit, officers reached speeds of 137 miles per hour, police documents
show.
Two
of the department’s newest police officers received formal reprimands for
violating the city’s pursuit policy on April 4, disciplinary records show.
Officers
Matthew Piper and Trinity Redmond were written up and required to review the
department’s chase policy. Their violations included engaging in the chase
without using emergency equipment such as police car sirens or blue lights,
according to the disciplinary records.
Piper
and Redmond could not be reached by The Herald on Monday.
After
department officials reviewed the pursuit and uncovered policy violations,
Helms and others said officers would be re-trained on pursuit procedures. Also,
Helms will now review all police pursuit evaluation records prepared by the
department, Helms told The Herald on Monday.
Helms
said the April 4 chase was the first violation of the city’s pursuit policy by
both Robinson and Edwards.
York
Mayor Eddie Lee said he did not learn of the disciplinary measures until last
Tuesday when he questioned Helms about it during the city manager’s own
evaluation with City Council. Still, Lee says he thinks Robinson should have
faced a stricter punishment.
“I
would have handled it differently if I had been city manager,” Lee said. “I
think when I learned about the chase on April 4, I would have placed the chief
on administrative leave until the conclusion of the investigation by the
solicitor.”
Helms
has told The Herald he did not place Robinson on administrative leave because
he did not think the allegations warranted such discipline.
Lee
disagrees, saying, “It was a serious violation of the city of York’s pursuit policy
and it had serious questions associated with it about excessive force.”
Pursuit
review: Chase showed ‘poor judgment’
The
recent disciplinary action came after a review of the chase by department
officials and Helms.
The
chase, which happened around midday and began in the city of York, presented
“many opportunities for disaster” and “showed very poor judgment” and
negligence, York Police Lt. Michael Keith Wills wrote in his review.
As
York officers pursued the car thief, there were examples of police acting
carelessly and dangerously, according to several reviews in the evaluation
file. Officers must weigh their decision to chase with the potential danger a
suspect poses to the public, according to York Police Department policy.
One
officer – who officials said then had not been certified by the South Carolina
Criminal Justice Academy – acted “unnecessary and negligent” when he entered
the opposite lane of travel going nearly 100 miles per hour, Wills wrote. He
added that “a collision at this speed head on with another vehicle would have
most likely been fatal.”
Several
reports stated that back-up officers were not given proper supervision or
direction from superior officers during the chase. “Some of the issues may have
been prevented with proper instruction,” Wills wrote.
