Bill Requiring SLED to Investigate Certain Cases

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Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — With a national spotlight shining on the issue of police brutality and officer-involved shootings, South Carolina lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday morning that would no longer allow law enforcement agencies to investigate serious officer-involved shootings within their own agency. “The idea that a local law enforcement agency would investigate themselves is a little bit hard for most people to understand,” said Senator Larry Martin. To change that, a Senate subcommittee voted in favor of a bill that would require the State Law Enforcement Division to handle all officer involved shootings that result in death or serious injury. “We don’t want these investigations to be narrowed, we want to make sure we get the detailed information and the right information is given to the people of South Carolina,” said Senator John Scott. Senator Scott said under these types of circumstances many agencies already turn over the investigation, but passing the bill creates greater transparency and consistency. “What we found in South Carolina was practice but not statute, so this piece of legislation puts it in statute,” said Senator Scott. As for opposition against the bill? Legislatures say there isn’t much, citing the fact many of them assumed officer-involved shootings were already investigated by another agency. “Because everybody’s doing it,” said Senator Martin. “I think that’s the biggest reason there’s not much opposition. It’s so widely accepted among law enforcement agencies around the state.” The bill goes to a full senate committee next. If it advances it will head to the Senate floor.