Police Chief Defends Decision to Fire Officers

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott fired one top investigation official and accepted the retirement of another, after it was revealed it took officers 10 days to find the body of missing, high-profile lobbyist and CEO, Tom Sponseller, who reportedly killed himself in the parking garage of his office building and left a suicide note in his desk. Scott announced Thursday he terminated his deputy chief of administration over investigations and accepted the retirement of his captain of investigations. Scott would not release their names or specify what the officers did wrong. The moves came two days after the body of 61-year-old Tom Sponseller was found behind a locked door that Scott says was not opened in three searches of the garage. Officers located Sponseller hours after finding a suicide note in his South Carolina Hospitality Association office. Chief Scott says, “In this situation, I have reviewed the actions of others and have determined that it is in the best interest of the Department and the City to take these personnel actions to keep us moving forward in a positive direction.” The staffers taking over the recently vacated positions are doing so temporarily, according to the chief. An internal probe into the way the search for Tom Sponseller was handled, continues.