Charleston police chief recommends discipline for suspended officer


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