CIVIL RIGHTS TASK FORCE TO PATROL HIGHWAY PATROL

When they’re not patrolling the state’s highways and byways for speeders and drunk drivers, some South Carolina Highway Patrol are off making national headlines for alleged civil rights violations.

So, to remedy this, U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins has set up a civil rights task force to review allegations of excessive force.

“We don’t want to put law enforcement in a position that they will not adequately do their job for fear of prosecution,” Wilkins told The State this week. “But at the same time, we certainly don’t want those (officers) to overstep their boundaries and take it to the next level and violate someone’s civil rights.”

Wilkins, who became South Carolina’s top federal prosecutor in June, said he created the four-attorney task force about two months ago in the wake of allegations of excessive force by state Highway Patrol troopers.

Two troopers were indicted this year on federal civil rights charges, though a Greenville jury acquitted Steve Garren. The other indicted trooper, John Sawyer, is awaiting trial.

I think instead of calling this a “civil rights” task force they should call it an “if you run from the law and you’re going to get hit by a police car” task force. Because, let’s face it, if you run from the law you deserve to get hit by a police car. I’m pretty sure Sheriff John Bunnell willed it when he created the World.