Senate panel to probe how black motorists are treated

[flashl]

S.C. Highway Patrol and race | Senate panel to probe how black motorists are treated

A special state Senate panel has launched an investigation into problems at the Department of Public Safety in the wake of allegations about how some troopers have treated black motorists.

Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, who led the Senate Judiciary subcommittee meeting Thursday, said information from the five-member panel will be used by the full Judiciary Committee to evaluate Gov. Mark Sanford’s nominee for the department director.

“We want to look and see if the problems are systemic,” said McConnell, the Judiciary Committee chairman and Senate president pro tempore.

The firestorm of controversy has spurred separate investigations by the U.S. attorney for South Carolina, the FBI, the Justice Department and the State Law Enforcement Division.

The State

See: New videos show SC troopers kicking, hitting suspects