By Ashley B. Craig
Charleston’s police chief has
recommended disciplinary action against a longtime officer accused of making
racially charged videos.The department’s Professional Standards Division
completed their investigation into Lt. Shawn Williams’ conduct earlier this
month. Chief Brent Webster has been reviewing their findings for a little more
than a week. He recommended on Wednesday that Williams, the patrol bureau
commander, be disciplined.“The investigation is complete and it’s been
thoroughly reviewed,” Webster said.Webster would not say what his
recommendation was, citing personnel laws. Sources told the Daily Mail the
recommendation is for Williams’ termination.The chief said the recommendation
goes to the department’s conduct review board, which is made up of three
officers. The board will hear evidence and could either uphold or overturn
Webster’s recommendation.That hearing will be in January, Webster said. Whether
it is open or closed to the public is up to Williams, the chief said.Charleston
Mayor Danny Jones said he couldn’t speak on the matter but added that he
supports Webster.Williams, who has been with the police department for 16
years, was allegedly being investigated over racially charged comments made on
a video that showed his daughter wearing parts of a Charleston police uniform
while dancing to a song that references the Ku Klux Klan, according to media
reports. The child was being asked questions by a man believed to be Williams
and sources have told the Daily Mail that racial epithets were being used in
the video in reference to a black Charleston officer.Sources have also said
there a multiple videos and that they were being sent to other officers in the
department. The video in question has not been made public and is not available
to the public or the press.Williams led the city’s Traffic Division before
taking over the Community Services Division. He most recently was in command of
the city’s Patrol Division. He has been on paid administrative leave since
Sept. 22. Lt. Chad Napier, Investigative Services chief, has been running the
patrol division in Williams’ absence
