Lott: Officers texting while driving ‘unacceptable’
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says that a photo of one of his deputies who appears to be using her cellphone while driving shows “unacceptable” behavior and that his department is investigating.
“Regardless if she was using the GPS on her phone or reading an email, the fact is she was a distracted driver and that is dangerous and cannot be tolerated,” according to a news release Wednesday from the Sheriff’s Department. “Distracted driving is the cause of too many preventable accidents.”
Lott told The State on Wednesday that the officer would be disciplined and the punishment reviewed by his department’s citizens advisory board. He did not identify the officer.
A photograph taken by another driver Monday was shared on social media and provided to Columbia TV station WIS-TV, which posted it on its Facebook page.
Many of you have seen this photo floating around social media yesterday and this morning, but does it show what you think it shows? >> http://shout.lt/9vSk
Posted by WIS TV on Wednesday, August 12, 2015
The station reported that the photo, by Matt Bridges of Lexington County, was taken of a Richland County deputy looking at her phone while driving on Knox Abbott Drive in Cayce, which is out of the department’s jurisdiction.
Lott “appreciated that Matt Bridges took the photo” and shared it with him and others, according to the department’s statement.
“All citizens should help police the police. When a law enforcement official acts inappropriately it should be reported so it can be addressed,” the statement read.
This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 11:21 AM.