FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – State policies for constables in South Carolina raised questions about who’s responsible for the supervision of a constable who shot a man Saturday night during a traffic stop in Florence.
The constable was riding with a Florence police officer when they pulled a man over for a traffic violation, according to 12th circuit solicitor Ed Clements. The nature of the violation hasn’t been released to the media.
Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela identified the constable as Christopher Bachochin.
The constable fired eight shots at the man who was pulled over, Clements said. Additional information about the circumstances of the shooting has not been released. The man who was shot has been released from the hospital, SLED told News13.
Wukela said the constable was riding along with a Florence police officer so we could maintain his certification. “The city of Florence isn’t in a supervisory position. The constable’s not in the chain of command in the city of Florence in any way.”
News13 asked SLED whether the mayor’s statement about supervision was true. SLED spokesperson Thom Berry directed News13 to two SLED policies for constables.
One of the policies said, in part, “An agency requesting the assistance of a State Constable is fully liable and responsible for the supervision and actions of the constable and for injuries to, or damages resulting from, actions by the constable.” City manager Drew Griffin told News13 he doesn’t think this policy applies to the situation in Florence because the constable was training and on a ride-along.
Berry also pointed News13 to a policy that says “Advanced State Constables may perform law enforcement activities: 3. As directed by a chief of police or sheriff. 4. Under the supervision of and in proximate contact with a full-time on-duty law enforcement officer.”
An agency must request State Constable assistance in writing, according to state policy. News13 requested the letter from SLED.
News13 also requested comment from the mayor. He asked News13 to email the policies to him.
