Not much that I can say about this at the moment — it being late on my worst day of the week, and my not having seen the video yet — but I thought I’d let y’all know what happened today, so you can go ahead and comment if you’re so disposed and ready:
Racial slur video leads to shake-up at Highway Patrol
Heads of the S.C. Department of Public Safety, S.C.Highway Patrol step down
Gov. Mark Sanford announced today the head of the state’s Department of Public Safety and the head of the state Highway Patrol have both stepped down after a video of a 2004 incident surfaced of a Highway Patrolman threatening a motorist and using a racial slur.
Public Safety Director James Schweitzer, who was appointed by Sanford during his first term, had been seeking reappointment to his post. But that was held up by the Legislative Black Caucus, who had obtained a video of the incident and shared it with other lawmakers and Sanford.
Caucus members said the videos, and other issues, were reasons lawmakers should question how Schweitzer ran the department and disciplined officers. Sanford met Thursday with Rep. Leon Howard, D-Richland, who is chairman of the Black Caucus, to discuss the video and problems within the DPS….
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So, why has it taken four years for this to surface?
What a blatant form of reverse racism! The Media is definitely and purposefully trying to stir controversy over a non story. It’s ironic to me how polarizing words can be; there are certain words women can use with each other with out any form of offense, but when a man utters those words to another woman everyone looses their sensibilities. On the same token african americans can exchange the “n” word among each other with a certain for eagerness without any offense, and yet when a caucasian person uses that word the air goes stagnant with racial tension. I’m an african american from san francisco, and the same thing occurs within the homosexual population: use the “f” word in front of the wrong gay person and all hell breaks loose.
In this case, a criminal was running away from the police. Period. Who in their right mind runs away from the police..I wonder if this video would be any different if the criminal cooperated with the police. In an environment charged with life threatening angst, where at moment some criminal who has the audacity to run away from the police can easily have the cajones to shoot a peace officer..in these circumstances I would use any and all inflammatory words in front of a cohort of criminals before I possibly met my maker and i wouldn’t be thinking of how politically correct i should be!
So the unidentified trooper remains on duty and the bosses are fired? Is that what the story says?…
After watching the video, I had the thought: Who would want this thankless job? The trooper seemed professional and in control until the one suspect bolted. No doubt, his remarks were wrong, spoken in the anger of the moment. Three suspects, two troopers. Nighttime, roadside. That’s tense, especially knowing drugs and a weapon were involved.
And so the trooper’s punishment (anger management and diversity training) would seem more productive than outright firing — turning him loose to another job without benefit of that counseling. Should the trooper then have remained on duty? That would probably depend on how well the counseling worked, and on the trooper’s response to it. In other words, a personnel matter, not a political issue.
And it all happened four years ago? So why grandstand now, in a national election year? What points is Sanford trying to score. Or is the governor “raising the bar” by setting a new policy of zero tolerance for racial misconduct by troopers?
There is no larger pattern of racism demonstrated, just the one incident — or two if you count the bumper handcuffing, which seems suspect under those circumstances. So given the total number of arrests each year, is the precedent now set for the governor to fire every public safety director anytime an officer makes a racially suspect comment, in anger or otherwise? Can any director of public safety live up to that standard? Who would want THAT job?
Sorry. I don’t get it. It all smells like a scapegoat sacrifice to appease the caucus.
Sounds like Sanford is trying out for VP on the Obama ticket.
Three men in a car, the smell of alcohol, one lie after another, all three treated with respect as they are searched and one man runs… Tensions are higher than I can even imagine. The officer probably could have shot the guy, instead, in the heat of the moment, he yells at him and chases him. The guy continues to resists arrest.Lives are at stake. The officer’s job is to arrest him. Was he seriously injured? Why is he so surprised that he was threatened ? Was someone killed? What happened to these guys? Were they arrested and charged with illegal possesion of drugs and a gun?Was it worth ruining these Department heads lives over this? Where are the suspects now? Are they law abiding citizens?There is a lot more to this story than the headlines scream .I bet 99% of the people who saw the headlines, never look at the story much less look at the video. It is disturbing, but the guys were mostly upset not by the threat or the slur, but at getting CAUGHT. Where is your responsibility in this matter?How was the Governor’s decsion made in this matter?
Isn’t this a little bit overboard? The policeman that yelled that slur should have received hefty discipline. Especially since he threatened to kill the man. But to fire 2 upper echelon people over it 4 years later is silly. Discipline them yes, but this is way past reason. Do policemen need to refrain from racial slurs? Yes. Do they need to refrain from making death threats? Absolutely. But fixing that involves standardizing disciplinary action involving either of these unacceptable behaviors and then enforce it consistently.
This is just political theater.
Sanford calims to have “just seen the video”. What a joke…he saw it two years ago…if not sooner.
It is all just a play to look like he is suited for the VP’s slot. Sanford uses anything and anyone to push himself ahead…
He is a fraud.
Good to know that brad warthen will get a Best of Class Self Hating White Boy from the colored people urban league white hating racists for promoting this bogus issue.
The state tampex is so anti white, poor south carolina, just more negro spite for saving their sorry asses from arab slavers.
Back in the 1970’s I knew a state trooper who got fired for stopping a car and telling the driver to…”Get out the DAMN car.”
Of course times have changed……
For better or worse?
change of subject, since race scares everyone else away …
“I’m mad as Hell, and I’m not gonna take it anymore …
DALLAS –The founder of a prestigious institute on media and politics added his voice Saturday to the chorus of complaint over perceived press bias in favor of Democrat Barack Obama.
Walter Shorenstein, a prominent San Francisco-based real estate developer, Democratic fundraiser and longtime supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton, penned a memo to Democratic party “superdelegates” and other activists criticizing media coverage of the presidential campaign.
Shorenstein is the founder of the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University. His memo came days before Tuesday’s key primaries in Ohio and Texas, which Clinton must win to save her waning candidacy.
The former first lady and her advisers have lashed out at the press in recent days, suggesting unfair coverage of the campaign has in part led to Obama’s victories in the last 11 voting contests. They’ve encouraged supporters and voters to watch a “Saturday Night Live” skit that aired last weekend, depicting a group of journalists fawning over Obama.
Clinton appeared on this week’s “SNL” to praise a similar sketch that parodied the media’s treatment of her and her rival.
In his memo, Shorenstein concurred with the Clinton campaign’s assessment.
“I am absolutely outraged with the media coverage of the presidential campaign,” Shorenstein wrote in the memo, which was obtained by The Associated Press. “This is the most important election in my long lifetime, and to quote one of my favorite movies, ‘I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!'”
He was quoting the 1976 movie “Network,” in which a mentally disturbed television news anchor played by Peter Finch went on the air and implored viewers to rebel against gimmicks staged by network news executives.
“There is too much on the line for the media to ignore important issues while they obsess about Hillary’s hairdo or Barack’s baritone,” Shorenstein continued. “Is it in the country’s best interest that voters received far more information about Hillary’s laugh than Obama’s legislative record? Is it good for our nation that more attention is paid to the differences in their speaking style than their health care plans?”
Shorenstein attached several studies to the memo indicating the press had given more favorable coverage to Obama than to Clinton, and urged activists to forward the material to friends and voters and to complain to reporters.
“Our democracy depends upon the fourth estate to fulfill the uniquely critical role of informing voters about the important issues facing our nation,” Shorenstein wrote. “Yet far too often, the campaign coverage has been biased, blase, or baseless.”
O.K. first let me start by informing everyone about the two gentlemen that resigned. Several years ago these two men were given the undounting task of fixing a very broken down S.C. Highway patrol. The budget was in the red, there were hundreds of troopers retireing and quiting and moral was at an ALL TIME low. These men came in and did a clean sweep. The product that was built and refined was hugely successful. The S.C. Highway Patrol was once again one of the most elite traffic enforement agencies in the NATION. Governor Sanford HAS NEVER ran after anybody into the woods at night that moments earlier was found to have drugs and a GUN on them. He has never had to place anyone under arrest by them self, with his nearest help miles away. Governor Sanford does’t realize the mistake he has just made. There is now way he is going to find the caliber of men that he allowed to resign anywere in the world. Governor YOU my friend are a polatician NOT a law enforment officer, when you put people in positions as head of agencies YOU MUST let them make those desision that pertain to there respective departments weather you agree with there desision or not. Not only have YOU governor commited political suicide, but quite possibily Career suicide as well.
Amen, CMAC!
Political correctness run amok.
Do nothing/say anything black legislators sit pompously in the comfort of the statehouse and spout all sorts of nonsense…and Governor Sanford dutifully and obediently laps it up and dismisses two heads of department who have arguably done outstanding work turning their departments around.
Sickening Governor. Just sickening.
David
To CMAC, Thanks for taking the time to write your feelings on this stupid act by Gov Sanford…hopefully there are enough folks who see thru his transparency and grandstanding that he indeed can be put out to pasture!! If we’re lucky it will be the pasture of James Trexler,South Carolina’s assistant agriculture commissioner, who was charged this week with five counts of ill treatment of animals. Betcha he’ll let the Gov bring his two underarm pigs along….
we need more citizens willing to speak out on these actions.
I don’t know why this took 4 years to come to light. This is political, but if this state is going to move forward, it does so by its actions. Kudos to Gov. Sanford, who I am not a big proponent, but this was a good decision if the other areas of impropriety by the two heads of this department are true. The standard by which our troopers are held, should be high. We should hire and promote on achievement and many South Carlinians think we don’t have racism in this state. I am reminded freqently in this state how things work. You good ole boys fight to keep the status quo of the civil war days, but that door is closing, slowly, but surely. Do you want to know why industry does not want to come to this bassackward state. Just look at the blogs on this subject and draw your own conclusion. I know why.
This happens both ways. I am white. A couple of years ago I was verbally assaulted by a black highway patrolman. I sent a letter of complaint to the head of the patrol which was most likely tossed in file 13. It is all about blacks these days. The only species that cannot be defended is the White American Male.
Wow. The two-wrongs-make-a-right theory has surfaced again.
You’re right, Dave. It is political correctness run amok.
CMAC, thanks for putting in the proper perspective what looks like the worst mistake I know of Mark Sanford making.
And, Gordon, thanks for telling us you were changing the subject when you really didn’t.
It would appear from the blogs, most see this for what it is,reverse racism. Look at the LBC’s spokespeople. Todd Rutherford defense lawyer /legislator to the drug dealers the patrol’s ACE team tries to get off the streets. We wont even look to all the loop holes he weaves into the DUI laws. Leon Howard, wrecker service operator. The patrol has the unenviable task of trying to regulate that scurrilous industry. Gilda Cobb-Hunter.Like her stellar driving habits havent been well reported over the years. Give us a break. From what one paper report stated…the trooper’s Captain that recommended the discipline is black. If he is the one recommending the punishment, why is the LBC not torn out of the frame about that? Their director and colonel got asked to step down to cater to an unpopular governor thats a wannabe viced presidential nominee. I hope he realizes he’s about as close to being nominated as he’s going to get now. We dont need another one in Washington adding to the problems. The dust will settle, Sanford will marshall in whom ever the LBC feels will cater to them and they will be happy for a short time. I will give the governors office some credit. Throwing the patrol’s former lt. col into the mix and naming him as interim colonel must not have been predicted by the LBC. After all it was them that were instrumental in getting him pushed aside in the first place for their (LBC’s) candidate to fill his job. Guess they though that the next likely step would be for him to move in when the void was created. You want to talk about a racist, ask about him.
If the LBC was so disconcerted by Director Schweitzers and Colonel Roarks being unatttentive to their needs, why did they not go see the governor much earlier? Like someone said earlier, the crime doesnt fit the punishment. This is character assination any way you you cut it. Both men were scapegoats to appease the LBC.
To CMAC
Thanks for your post in The State. You are so right and Sanford is very wrong in this matter. When you watch the video you will notice early in the video that when the patrolman goes to the front of the car that one of the blacks tried to maneuver himself behind the other patrolman.
The two patrolman knew that they were in a very tenuous position. They used intimidation to gain control of the situation. Bottom line. It was a smart move on their part otherwise they might be dead.
Slugger
The problems with these videos are not only the use of racial slurs. In almost every case where a trooper was killed by gunfire the defendant claimed self defense. When an armed trooper yells “I gonna kill you” and the “n” word it certainly raises an issue of self-defense if that trooper is killed. In the other stop that lady was left alone on a highway after the trooper towed her car. Troopers are suppose to help people on the road; not create a situation like this. Both should be terminated and anyone that went along with the discipline recommendation.
To CMAC, maybe a refresher course in simple SPELLING would help you to overcome your need to write hateful nonsense. To those who think that what CMAC wrote is correct, I say to you, an officer of the law should be above having to use racial slurs to get his/her point across. Anger does one thing, it bring out the real you. No more excuses, end it now!
Pols 100 and MrGee, While I agree that the use of a death threat and racial language are very inappropriate in any case, I also understand that people get angry, and scared. Again, perhaps the officer who said these words needed further discipline than what he got, but he’s not the one fired. His superiors are the ones that caught the flak. I know of no directive that either had been given to terminate anyone who commits such offenses. This is utterly unfair to them. If such language, under such circumstances, is to be an offense that results in termination, then everyone, bosses to newest policeman, should be given that information.
Does racism exist on the Highway Patrol? Of course it does. However remember that racism crosses all ethnic lines, nor is it prevalent on the HP or exclusive to the HP. It occurs in every other profession in life. Like it or not. Does this one incident that the LBC brings to light 4 years after the fact prove that the HP or the single Trooper is racist? No, of course not. The fact of the matter is that the Trooper was disciplined. It is a personnel matter that was not decided just by the Director or just by the Colonel. I challenge anyone to look at the discipline policy for State employees. It is a process.
As a LEO I can tell you that tensions are extremely high in situations such as the one video shows. The Trooper was absolutely wrong for using language like that, no doubt about it. As said before though, he was disciplined, and given another chance; the same thing that our legal system does for many criminals.
Governor Sanford obviously buckled to political pressure from the LBC. A blind man can see that. Is it a coincidence that it happened to be an election year? Probably not, but that is my opinion. I have been a Sanford supporter since he was in Congress, however this ridiculous decision that he made has changed my feelings toward him completely.
It is so easy for someone to sit back and play armchair quarterback, which is what the LBC and Sanford did. This was a personnel matter that was handled appropriately. The names of two honorable men (Schweitzer and Roark) have now been tarnished. These men have brought back so much to the HP and DPS in the last 4 years. Schweitzer had an uphill battle from day one, but he overcame it and gained the respect of most if not all uniformed officers with DPS. Roark moved through the ranks to Colonel and has always put the needs of Troopers before his own. Both men should be praised, not condemned. For Sanford to sit in his office and to judge the actions of either is pitiful, and shameful. Sanford has shown his true colors. What a weasel!
The 2nd video just shows poor judgment not racism. And again the Trooper was disciplined and given another chance.
I, too, am glad that the LBCs candidate for Colonel was passed over. Yes, he is black, which has no bearing on me personally as long as the best candidate is placed in the position. More importantly is that he is an obvious racist to all that truly know him. He will cuss and humiliate Troopers of different races in front of peers and supervisors and then have the audacity to tell you to treat the public with respect. He looks out for his “boys” only, insuring that they are promoted above the best qualified.
The LBC claims that non-whites are promoted more than others. BS! Look at the Command structure and all other supervision ranks. Proportionally non-whites are a much smaller percentage of the rank and file Troopers with the HP; but look at supervisors and you’ll see that proportionally there are a higher percentage of non-whites. So again it’s just the LBC trying to stir something that is not there.
This is not a black-white issue. It is a right-wrong crime-punishment issue that was handled appropriately. Sanford buckled because of political pressure.
The HP was finally on the right track; moving forward, progressing. This ignorant, politically motivated, from the hip decision that Sanford made will have long lasting repercussions on not only the HP but DPS as well.
The two patrolmen have created an event that may or may not hurt future law enforcement.
Time and events change that cause overview of the conduct of all law enforcement. Let me say that I admire any individual willing to put themselves in harms way to protect the public. They are underpaid and overworked in many instances.
I watched the video and feel that the patrolmen felt threatened and outnumbered. They did not know who might stop and possibly cause the situation to explode.
We have to put ourselves in this situation and know the background of what these two patrolmen have faced on the job that would be a threat at time of arrest.
Many police officers have died in the line of duty because they did not think fast enough when they got into a do or die situation.
When you put restraints on all law enforcement and prevent them from doing their job, you are further asking them to put their lives on the line.
Should an officer be able to have all people involved walk away unharmed (except for a few words that were spoken) you have done your job.
When you put restraints on the very people that are trying to save your life, then one situation does not fit all circumstances.
Karen,
I do believe that the directives that concern “conduct unbecoming to an officer” and the “use of force” policies apply to these situations. “You better run you ‘n'” and “I am going to kill you” are verbal commands, I believe it is number 2 in your level of force policy, indeed. These words are never an a appropriate use of force and warrant termination. There is your information.
The two patrolmen have created an event that may or may not hurt future law enforcement.
Time and events change that cause overview of the conduct of all law enforcement. Let me say that I admire any individual willing to put themselves in harms way to protect the public. They are underpaid and overworked in many instances.
I watched the video and feel that the patrolmen felt threatened and outnumbered. They did not know who might stop and possibly cause the situation to explode.
We have to put ourselves in this situation and know the background of what these two patrolmen have faced on the job that would be a threat at time of arrest.
Many police officers have died in the line of duty because they did not think fast enough when they got into a do or die situation.
When you put restraints on all law enforcement and prevent them from doing their job, you are further asking them to put their lives on the line.
Should an officer be able to have all people involved walk away unharmed (except for a few words that were spoken) you have done your job.
When you put restraints on the very people that are trying to save your life, then one situation does not fit all circumstances.
Toby, It does show the trooper is biased toward A.A. and he is impeachable on the witness stand because of it. The trooper has lost his credibility when dealing with A.A. It is a good idea to transfer him to a desk job so he will not have to prosecute.
Slugger, If the trooper felt outnumbered then why did he run off in the woods leaving the Greenwood deputy alone with 2 suspects? Would it not be more prudent to set up a perimeter to capture the suspect; therefore not leaving the deputy alone and outnumbered?
Don’t tell me not to judge without being in their shoes. I was the very same shoes for 25 years.
Slugger,
Bias and racism are 2 completely different things. And my opinion is that it does not show bias. It shows ignorance on the Trooper’s part.
How can you speak for AA when you say he lost his credibility for all AAs. Did he lose it with some? Sure. All? Probably not. And your solution for this Trooper is to transfer him to a desk job, thereby potentially ending his career? For a word usage mistake? What if this is a young Trooper who happens to be immature and ignorant and happended to use extremely poor judgement?
I applaud you, slugger, for making your 25 years without any mistakes. I guess the rest of us aren’t as perfect. Toby
This may come as a surprise to some. The Spartanburg Herald is running an article in the Sunday addition that SC residents will soon have to begin using a passport to board a commercial flight or enter a federal building. This is as a result of the Real ID act of 2005. Our beloved “Governor” has until May 11th to come up with a request to the feds for an extension. He has had since 2005 to fix this and hasnt.How long before we can request him to step down for his incompetence in handling this issue. He can watch a video and whack two distinguished DPS officials in 30 minutes. His Einstein spokesperson (Joel Sawyer)say’s “We’re still evaluating our options on that front”. How long is it going to take them to analyze their options. Does the mouthpiece get axed also for serving his idiot master? Whoever the head at DMV is better bend over as they are next, if you use Sanford’s method of doling out punishment. Why hasnt the LBC done something constructive whil in session. Oh I forgot they have been preoccupied. This better get fixed before May 11 or I get the feeling the LBC will be the least of the Governor’s concerns.
THANKS TO ALL,
I would like first of all to say thanks to everyone who replied to my first post and for all the emails that I also recieved. But I would like to apologize for my grammer and my spelling in that first post, you see this issue does reach home for me. Because, for the last decade I have been very privileged to have had worked for these two very intelligent and courageous men. I have said this before and I will say it once again, law enforcement is alot like
religion. You don’t know how bad you need it until you need it. How many of us go thru life and don’t think twice about Jesus. We say to ourself things are going good, the bills are all paid, the kids are great and life is just dandy. So we don’t need Christ. HOWEVER, the very minute that things go astray we drop to our knees and start praying. Well my friends the public treats law enforcement officers or better yet TROOPERS in the VERY SAME WAY. As long as life is good we turn up our nose’s at officers, we arm chair quarterback them, if they slip up JUST ONE TIME, in the middle of the woods on a cold night JUST everyone else can sleep in comfort we condem them. We are SO VERY quick to persecutee them. The media questioned them so fast that they questioned them self. And at the end, the court system lets them go. But hold on, the second life throws us a curve WE send for them. and quick. And we expect them to come. What would happend if they didn’t, What would happend if no one was on the other end. WHAT IF they say “no im sorry we can’t come”. And after all this they still get up every single day and put on there weapon, uniform and drive away knowing that the WORLD as a whole is against them, and they do it without a second thought. We do it because NO ONE ELSE WILL, we do it because it has to be done, and we do it so YOU the public, can have the freedom to make these very enflamatory comments about us IN SAFETY. Thank you Coronel Roark for making this TROOPER the best officer he can be, and thank you for molding me into the man I have become.
This could be as stupid as Governor Beasley taking the confederate flag down.Good thing he’s on his 2nd term,Sanford wouldn’t get my vote for dog catcher!!!!
weldon … as you well know, and have demonstrated on occasion yourself, some threads reuire interjection of a new direction before they are able to form up fully on the topic at hand. As I’m sure you’ve also noticed, a topic may begin just about anywhere and still find it’s way to the ultimate conclusion regarding all topics here, namely our glorious governors. This seems especially true where the original topic touches on race, perhaps because the governor is so clearly of the Charleston green.
Elizabeth mabry was given full retirement for doing alot worse than these two gentlemen.Sad.
Indeed, Gordon. I meant my comment about changing the subject without changing the subject as a compliment. The Obama effect from the press and Sanford’s firing of these two officials mirror each other. It’s all part of the “we have to be nice to black people” facet of political correctness.
As long as that kind of behavior continues from government and the press, racism will continue to rear its ugly head in society. Only when the government and the media become genuinely blind to race will racism disappear. Justice is blind, not Charleston green or Carolina blue.
It took over 3 years to get to this point so that the Black Caucus could get their man in place to replace the Colonel.
The internal politics of the Highway Patrol will never cease,maybe they should be disbanded. This is my opinion and it comes from being there but yet it is still only an opinion.
I do not know Sweitzer or Roarke and I guess it was legitimate to start at the top but it has never been done that way before to my knowledge.
This young man that did this most certainly does no belong on a job with a badge and a gun but saying that one must realize the Patrol has a manual of operations and a Grievence procedure. I am almost sure this had to be run by OPR and the Lawyers there and they may have been concerned about the procedure of firing and the liablity and did not want to waste a bunch of money that could be spent through the Workmans Compensation funds that the Legislature uses so righteously to fill the coffers of lawyers.If I am correct I heard the officer was suspended and made to go to sensitivity training and if that were the punishment so be it. I personally think this is an operation by the Black Causcus to promote their man to Colonel. Remember back when the Patrol and Transport Police seperated. Shortly there after my understanding was a Senator from the Caucus helped promote one of his friends to a powerful position in the Transport Police. Of course this was just rumor at the time and I do not have any first hand knowledge of it. That is the reason personnel matters should be held internally and not in the news. One thing I know for a fact, the Col. or Sweitzer have their reputations ruined with no recourse and coming from one who knows that is mighty tough and the Black Caucus rides away into the sunset with another 2 scalps on their belt with no one to answer to and control of the Department of Public Saftey.
Not only has Colonel Roark done an excellent job in leadership of the patrol, but he has been a great support to the families of those that have been lost. My father was an SC State Trooper killed in the line of duty many years ago. Colonel Roark has been a great support to our family over the years. He has always taken time out of his busy day to attend parole hearings for the man who killed my father.
Colonel Roark has done an excellent job and has stood by his decisions and what he thinks is the right thing to do, even if it may not be the politically correct thing to do. He is a decent man, one of the good guys and I feel his “retirement” will be a huge loss for the patrol.
Racism is a zero tolerance issue in law enforcement. People love being tough on crime – how about being tough on bigotry.
Law enforcement officers have a tremendous amount of power over the individuals with whom they interact, and accordingly, officers should be held to the highest standard of conduct. This kind of behavior is a far cry from that standard.
The department’s action on this matter – which could more aptly be characterized as inaction – sends a dangerous message that these sorts of views will be tolerated or dealt with lightly. The officer’s use of such an offensive word reveals a much deeper character flaw – one that is totally incompatible with a position in law enforcement.
I’ve not had the opportunity to discuss this incident with my friends in law enforcement, but I suspect they are most offended by this kind of behavior. At best, it embarrasses their profession; at worst, it makes their job harder and more dangerous by contributing to the distrust many already harbor.
I promised myself I would never participate in these blogs, however I don’t know if I am able to contain my anger and disgust if I do not. I have known Russell “Rusty” Roark for over 20 years. From the moment I met him until I last spoke with him, he has never spoken a word of hate or been racially motivated. The Highway Patrol was and has always been his first love. (That’s probably the reason we never got married).
It kills me to know that because of one or two men (Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, a member of the Legislative Black Caucus and State Rep. Leon Howard, head of the Legislative Black Caucus) filled with hate and retaliation, Russell has lost his livelihood.
In the 2004 video of the trooper making a traffic stop, it was wrong and inappropriate for the trooper to use a racial slur, however he was on duty and made a traffic stop in which three young men with a GUN and DRUGS told him they did not have possession. Which is a worse crime? A racial slur or GUNS and DRUGS?
I am sorry and I do not mean to add to the hate – because there is already enough in this world, but someone – preferably an African-American, please tell me why it is ok for your race to use the “N” word (in music and comedy shows) but not ok for other races? We all learn from example and I do not see a good example being made by the African-American people.
James, re: another 2 scalps
I don’t care who the Governor sends — but we’ve still got a-couple-a CHOICE SCALPS with sunset tickets.
The legislative black caucus is clearly an extortion operation, threatening burn baby burn riots if whitey does not toe the afro marxist line.
Everything they do is strictly to poke whitey’s eyes and bust his testicles to get their henchmen into positions of power and treasure, just like their african ancestors who sold them to the foolish spanish and english.
They are marxists who believe all gain is ill gotten and all power is based on good ole boy connections, and the mulatto descendants of the atlantic slave trade can do just a good of job as the blue eyed devil whiteys in hustling power and treasure, and of course all those white girls.
The afro marxist mission is to use white boy laws against them and then use african tribal methods to dominate society.
Fortunately they do not grasp the deep knowledge of power politics the europeans learned in their endless ethnic wars which led to a constitution that by reason and principle eventually came to include the atlantic west african slave trade descendants.
So now they act the fool and the state newspaper affirmative action hirelings present their ravings and rants as reasonable. Same nonsense as reconstruction days and that let to jim crow and the klan.
The proof is the delusional support of the sociopathic hatchling of the kansan hippie and east african kenyan con man in hawaii, raised by an indonesian muslim and white grandparents named obama, who parlayed affirmative action access to elite education to get an afro marxist education and the sanction of a black separatist church.
FYI, The east african kenya luo tribe of obama were slave sellers of the west african slave descendants now living like fat cats off european white tax doles.
Long live the state newspaper with their hate whitey editorials and orwellian 1984 thinking and animal farm politics.
South Carolina is lucky to have warthen, bolton, darby, pitts and the silly hyphenated female academics and delusional pastors published commentary in the state newspaper to reveal their base white hated motives.
Somebody must have invented a time machine. Surely someone as backward and ignorant as Candid doesn’t live in the 21st century. At least there’s somebody out there who has poorer spelling and grammar skills than I do. Thank you Candid for making me look better.
I am still waiting for An African-American to tell me why it is ok for them to use the “N” word?
As I have said previously on this blog. We have far reaching consequences concerning the resignation of Roarke and
Sweitzer.
When such an event occurs and has such catastrophic consequences for the future of law enforcement. we must stand back and look at why and what the event protrudes for the safety of all the people.
We, as a society, do not have animosity toward any race of people. The fact that the black people feel inferior (if they do) and lash out against any white person that may or may not have feelings of bigotry, is not something that the highway patrol or any other law enforcement organization can control.
Law enforcement is a branch of government enacted to protect all the people. Whether or not the perpetrator of a crime happens to be white or black is not the issue. The issue is that an incident involving 2 patrolmen stopped a car that had weapons and drugs and 3 men that would possibly use a situation to their advantage and possibly take down two patrolmen cannot be tolerated be it perpetrated by a black patrolman against a white or vise-versa.
Let us get real. We either have law enforcement that protect all or we use a N word to say that only a segment of society can be protected.
I say (once again) that the patrolmen saved their lives by going on the offense. They were in control of a very bad situation.
Now that this has cost the leadership of two dedicated individuals because white men use the N word, it seems that we have more of a problem about word usage than we do about law enforcement. Is there something wrong with this picture?
Maybe the people that feel offended by a word should get real. There are more important things that effect the black society than the use of the N word. The black people should stop using the N word if it is so offensive and join the rest of society and let us all work for the betterment of everyone and stop causing the division between races.
As I have said previously on this blog. We have far reaching consequences concerning the resignation of Roarke and
Sweitzer.
When such an event occurs and has such catastrophic consequences for the future of law enforcement. we must stand back and look at why and what the event protrudes for the safety of all the people.
We, as a society, do not have animosity toward any race of people. The fact that the black people feel inferior (if they do) and lash out against any white person that may or may not have feelings of bigotry, is not something that the highway patrol or any other law enforcement organization can control.
Law enforcement is a branch of government enacted to protect all the people. Whether or not the perpetrator of a crime happens to be white or black is not the issue. The issue is that an incident involving 2 patrolmen stopped a car that had weapons and drugs and 3 men that would possibly use a situation to their advantage and possibly take down two patrolmen cannot be tolerated be it perpetrated by a black patrolman against a white or vise-versa.
Let us get real. We either have law enforcement that protect all or we use a N word to say that only a segment of society can be protected.
I say (once again) that the patrolmen saved their lives by going on the offense. They were in control of a very bad situation.
Now that this has cost the leadership of two dedicated individuals because white men use the N word, it seems that we have more of a problem about word usage than we do about law enforcement. Is there something wrong with this picture?
Maybe the people that feel offended by a word should get real. There are more important things that effect the black society than the use of the N word. The black people should stop using the N word if it is so offensive and join the rest of society and let us all work for the betterment of everyone and stop causing the division between races.
The Govendevelopnor Houdini Sanfraud has done it again. He is intentionally wrecking one state agency after another. What he is trying to do is divert attention from all of the other problems that he is having and cover-up. Also, by constantly firing people it leaves the remaining people in fear of speaking out.
We have the most corrupt governor in the history of South Carolina.
I would like you to meet Govendevelopnor Mark “Houdini” Sanfraud.
CHECK THIS OUT, THIS IS AMAZING!
Mark Sanford avoiding the topic of illegal immigration
Sanford was asked, “why are public funds being used to for private communities which use illegal immigrant labor.” Watch as he never actually answers the question.
VIDEO LINK:
and here’s another one…
Senator Jake Knotts on Governor Sanford’s State of the State
VIDEO LINK
MORE AMAZING VIDEO:
RE: Mark Sanford
John Land on Workers’ Comp
WASHINGTON (AP) — Traffic crashes cost American motorists more than $160 billion a year while inflicting a staggering per-person toll on small cities such as Little Rock, Columbia, S.C., and Pensacola, Fla., according to a AAA research report.
-The USA Today
Perhaps Schweitzer and Roark should have been fired for failing to adequately address this serious issue. SC continues to rank among the top 5 deadliest states in the country. Seems to me they’ve failed in their primary mission.
Okay, for everyone who has known the former director and former colonel on a personal basis, I am glad. I have known and worked with and for the former colonel for twenty years. In that time, he exhibited favoritism and well as being very egotistical. He has helped ruin the lives of many fine troopers by having his subordinates carry out disciplinary actions that were not warranted. If you were in Roark’s group, you could do anything with no punishment. He completely ruled Schweitzer. Schweitzer might have been book smart, but he never had control over that agency. Roark was the person behind the scenes who brought down several colonels by calling the press on things he thought would embarass them. I am sure some troopers and families who have lost loved ones like him. He presents a very good image. He is well spoken and nice to people’s faces. I have personally seen him greet many people, say kind words to them and as soon as they walk away he talks about how much he dislikes them. He allowed his sister-in-law to continue to be his secretary when he was the Troop captain and she was the secretary for captains after him until her retirement. She derived much power from him. His nephew works in OPR(internal affairs). If you think he couldn’t influence a decision by OPR, then you are sorely misled. This is really not an issue of race. It has become that in the mind of some people. His power totally corrupted him. He even changed the pronunciation of his last name when he came to Columbia. The issues that eventually brought him down were addressed before. It was a combination of many factors that did this.