Attorney Reacts: SLED Investigating Possible Police Beatings Of Homeless People
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Police Officer's Lawyer Talk
The attorney for a Greenville Police officer accused of abusing homeless people spoke about the allegations.
Published: October 13, 2009
Updated: October 14, 2009
An attorney for a former Greenville Police officer says allegations that his client abused homeless people are blown out of proportion.
“My client doesn’t think he has done anything wrong,“ said Ryan Beasley, an attorney representing one of the accused officers. “I just hope everything, the truth comes out, that it was embellished stories and not as big of a story as everyone thinks it’s going to be.“
Beasley would not go into details of exactly what happened. It’s now a truth that SLED, the FBI and Department of Justice are trying to find. SLED Director Reggie Lloyd says they are investigating allegations of the mistreatment of homeless people by four Greenville Police officers. The four officers have since resigned.
SLED Director Reggie Lloyd says his office was asked to look into allegations that the officers beat homeless people by Greenville Police Chief Terri Wilfong. Lloyd has asked the FBI to become involved because of possible civil rights violations.
“The allegations, if true, are very disturbing,“ said Lloyd. “In situations where you have police officers allegedly misusing their badge so to speak to restrain someone improperly, or potentially exert physical violence against someone, that’s proper. That could trigger civil rights statutes.“
Lloyd said the allegations were brought to light by people within the Police department.
Wilfong would not confirm the allegations, but said they wasted no time in questioning the officers involved.
“They’ve tarnished our badge,“ Wilfong said. “They’ve given us a bad name and the rest of us are going to have to pay for it, cause they’re no longer here.“
One of the officers told News Channel 7’s Melissa Keeney that the allegations were “completely” false. He says he stepped down because he was tired of being accused of something he didn’t do.
“I want to assure the community not to lose trust,“ Wilfong said.
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Reader Reactions
Ever since this new police chief came in and has had to report to the city manager instead of city council, there has been tension. The city does not have enough police officers, despite the statements to the contrary. They count newbies right out of the academy and there is a permanent revolving door. My bet is these are trumped up charges against officers trying to do their jobs.
And to think,we’ve been told since we were kids that the police were our friends & are there to “Protect & Serve”....Apparently not in the City of Greenville….
I find it intriguing that none of the alleged “victims” had made a complaint. To the Police Dept nor any local shelters.
The accusations came from within the Greenville Police Department.
It makes one wonder what’s going on internally that generated this turmoil.
Perhaps we could look at this rather than jump to any conclusion about the accused
I am with both of you! There is no reason to mistreat people less fortunate. They are the ones we need to be helping! We are just blessed that WE have homes.
felix,
You said it all!!!!!!!
You are so right and I hope they do prosecute them to the max.
If police officers were mistreating the homeless people of Greenville then they deserve to be prosecuted to the max! It could one day be them…it is only by the grace of God that it isn’t!
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