Latta Police Chief Temporarily Suspended From Job

LATTA, S.C. (WPDE) — Latta Police Chief Crystal Moore has been suspended for one week, according to a town official.

The official said he can’t comment as to why Moore has been suspended.

Moore also said she can’t comment on the matter and is speaking with her attorney.

Acting Latta Town Administrator Jarrett Taylor said the matter is a personnel issue and isn’t public information.

Taylor said Derrick Cartwright has been named interim police chief for the next five days.

Moore is running as a petition candidate against Democrat incumbent Sheriff Major Hulon to become Dillon County Sheriff after gaining well over the 980 signatures she needed last month needed to get on the ballot for the November election.

Moore gained national attention in the spring of 2014 when she said she was fired from the Latta police force for being gay.

Latta Mayor Earl Bullard fired Moore, but the town council did not agree with his decision, leading to some very heated town council meetings.

The town voted to change its form of government from Strong Mayor-Weak Council to Weak Mayor-Strong Council because the council lacked the power to reinstate Moore.

At the next meeting after the town referendum was approved, the council voted to fire the police chief hired by Bullard and then immediately rehired Moore.

Moore has worked for the Latta police force for over 20 years.

We will continue to look into this situation and bring you any updates as they come in.