NEWS BRIEFS: Police say lessons learned; coalition pushes back on report

Staff reports  |  Charleston police say an internal assessment of May 30-31 protests downtown show the agency has learned, but a coalition of activists is pushing back.

During the presentation of the final after-action report during Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting, Chief Luther Reynolds said the report was made to include the perspectives of officers, community leaders, business owners, residents, protesters and arrested criminal offenders.

“Numerous lessons have been learned, and areas of improvement were immediately addressed and utilized over the summer of 2020 to provide for many affected First Amendment demonstrations,” he said. “There are many things that have been ongoing since May 30-31 and continue. This involves collaborating with our community regarding current policies and how to get involved with police reform and the ongoing social justice movement.”

But a coalition of 10 Charleston-area advocacy groups said that the report and presentation paints an incomplete picture, centering on “property over people,” and fails to fully acknowledge the law enforcement reaction to the protest.

“CPD often touts itself as being ahead of the curve when it comes to police reform and public demands for changes in law enforcement,” the coalition said in the letter. “But, none of that has translated to substantive change for those most affected by police crimes.”  Read more.

In other recent news:

State could move soon to next vaccination phase. Phase 1B of vaccinations, which includes teachers, grocery store employees and other essential employees, could begin by the middle to the end of the month, according to Dr. Edward Simmer, director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. On Sunday, state health officials reported 1,197 new cases of the coronavirus with 35 additional confirmed deaths. With 26,779 tests reported Sunday, 7 percent were positive.

Senate approves borrowing $550M for port. After four days of debate, South Carolina senators on Wednesday voted 45-1 on a proposal to borrow up to $550 million to expand the port in Charleston with more railroads and a barge that could carry cargo from one terminal to another. More: Associated Press. 

Folly Beach ranked #15.  The beach town on the “Edge of America” ranked 15th best coastal town in the country according to a new ranking by Big 7 Travel.  The towns were ranked based on their “seaside vacation factor,” which includes beach amenities, natural scenery, community atmosphere, food and drink scene and activities. top coastal town: Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif. 

McCoy steps down as S.C.’s U.S. attorney.  U.S. Attorney Peter McCoy of James island, South Carolina’s top federal prosecutor, submitted his resignation letter to President Joe Biden last Monday.  Prior to his appointment by President Donald Trump, McCoy chaired the S.C. House Judiciary Committee.  Source: Associated Press.

Charleston Forum gets $10K donation.  The Charleston Forum, a racial advocacy group formed in the wake of the 2015 Emanuel A.M.E. Church shooting, announced a $10,000 donation from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation to support its ongoing effort to host a conversation on race and introduce solutions to improve the community. More.

S.C. House considers ban on trans students in girls’ sports.  S.C. House members spent more than an hour Tuesday listening to testimony on a bill that would prevent transgender students from playing on girls’ sports teams in middle and high school.  More: Charleston City Paper.

S.C. considers electric chair as Virginia nixes death penalty.  The S.C. House Judiciary Committee last week advanced a bill to make electrocution the default method of state-sanctioned execution as Virginia lawmakers voted to abolish capital punishment. South Carolina has not executed an inmate in nearly a decade, as the drugs used to perform lethal injections have expired and become difficult for the state to buy. Since then, politicians have tried, but struggled, to find ways to restart executions. Currently, South Carolina criminals sentenced to death can choose to die by lethal injection or electrocution. The state’s “death chamber” is located at Broad River Correctional Institution, about a 13-minute drive from the Statehouse. There are 37 people currently on South Carolina death row.  Read more.

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