The City of Columbia, S.C.’s less-than-competent police chief – who recently “retired” for fifteen days and was then rehired as part of an effort to milk every last cent out of the state’s pension fund – is once again off the job.
Except this time the reason isn’t immediately clear …
Randy Scott – who was handpicked as police chief by Columbia, S.C. mayor Steve Benjamin two-and-a-half years ago – has taken an indefinite leave of absence from his position. Meanwhile Scott’s top lieutenant – Ruben Santiago – has been tapped as the city’s interim chief.
No reason was given for Scott’s decision, and according to a reporter at The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper the news appears to have taken the city’s leaders by surprise.
“This announcement appears to have caught city council off guard,” reporter Noelle Phillips wrote on her Facebook page. “The mayor’s spokesman said he is on vacation and won’t discuss because it’s a personnel issue.”
Hmmmm …
Scott vowed to be “the community’s chief,” but his tenure has been a disaster. Not only did his department screw the pooch on a high-profile disappearance-turned-suicide, but one of the city’s major downtown retail centers has become home to all sorts of bloody lawlessness.
Calls and text messages to Scott’s cell phone were not immediately returned.
The city’s last police chief, Tandy Carter, was fired in May 2010 after he objected to the city’s interference into an investigation involving then mayor-elect Benjamin’s controversial car crash – which left a Columbia, S.C. hotel worker with permanent physical damage (she has since died of cancer). Specifically, Carter said that the investigation into Benjamin’s crash was being run by City Hall, and that he refused to be a “puppet police chief.”
Benjamin, incidentally, is one of several elected officials accused of being involved in an illegal video poker ring run out of neighboring Lexington County. In fact Benjamin’s name – and the name of one of his political advisors – are mentioned on an audio recording starring Lexington Town Council member Danny Frazier, who is reportedly a central figure in the so-called “Lexington Ring.”
UPDATE: FITS has spoken with several sources claiming to have insight into the reason for Scott’s abrupt announcement. Stay tuned …
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52 comments
“has taken an indefinite leave of absence”
Question is whether it is leave with or without pay
Given the City of Columbia’s record of competence the cockroach is probably still on the payroll
Take a look in the mirror. Your Ignorance is what gives us incompetence like Columbia and Richland Co. Government.
You have NO right to complain. You are the cause…You should only apologize, repent and asked forgiveness from people like me, for what you have done to our state and our country…
That vaginal itch is really screwing around with your thought processing lately
Easy, he spent Easter at the Redneck Rivera and may have just gotten sand up there.
… or maybe crabs crawled up inside of him…
“has taken an indefinite leave of absence”
Question is whether it is leave with or without pay
Given the City of Columbia’s record of competence the cockroach is probably still on the payroll
Take a look in the mirror. Your Ignorance is what gives us incompetence like Columbia and Richland Co. Government.
You have NO right to complain. You are the cause…You should only apologize, repent and asked forgiveness from people like me, for what you have done to our state and our country…
That vaginal itch is really screwing around with your thought processing lately
Easy, he spent Easter at the Redneck Rivera and may have just gotten sand up there.
… or maybe crabs crawled up inside of him…
When FITS advocates for moderates, and BLASTS Conservatives…he empowers leftwing government…
This is your Handi-work FITS…don’t dis-avow it, now…
Yes. He needs to be a good fascist.
Taaking guns, forcing Abortion on churches, jailing people for not buying government insurance…and you don’t call that fascist??
You must be one ignorant M*#@*&$ker….
When FITS advocates for moderates, and BLASTS Conservatives…he empowers leftwing government…
This is your Handi-work FITS…don’t dis-avow it, now…
Yes. He needs to be a good fascist.
Taaking guns, forcing Abortion on churches, jailing people for not buying government insurance…and you don’t call that fascist??
You must be one ignorant M*#@*&$ker….
Same guy who didn’t look for the body in the closet until it began to putrify?
… and blamed it on a veteran officer who wasn’t even in state when it happened, and then fired her.
Same guy who didn’t look for the body in the closet until it began to putrify?
… and blamed it on a veteran officer who wasn’t even in state when it happened, and then fired her.
40-something years old and 8 kids, maybe he took time of to get a vasectomy.
40-something years old and 8 kids, maybe he took time of to get a vasectomy.
It can’t possibly be a problem! Why, he just got some award for how great he is.
It can’t possibly be a problem! Why, he just got some award for how great he is.
An Indefinite leave of absence without an explanation??. Are you sure Mark Sanford is not running this office?
An Indefinite leave of absence without an explanation??. Are you sure Mark Sanford is not running this office?
Carter was fired over the wreck. Just maybe Randy knows exactly how involved Benjamin is with the Palmetto Compress Building sale? Oh, hell, no. He’s not that smart and wouldn’t say so if he did know. But it’s okay because he’s a Democrat.
Carter was fired over the wreck. Just maybe Randy knows exactly how involved Benjamin is with the Palmetto Compress Building sale? Oh, hell, no. He’s not that smart and wouldn’t say so if he did know. But it’s okay because he’s a Democrat.
Why do we care why he’s gone – as long as he’s gone?
Good point, BB! To answer the second part, maybe because we are scared he will come back. He does that, kind of like a herpes outbreak.
I care because he is getting paid.
Why do we care why he’s gone – as long as he’s gone?
Good point, BB! To answer the second part, maybe because we are scared he will come back. He does that, kind of like a herpes outbreak.
I care because he is getting paid.
First of all, the new city manager is not qualified for the position. It is a travesty that she was hired with a higher salary then the previous city manager. Just another prime example of the corruption that is the city of Columbia.
Having said that, what other city employee has the ability to resign his position for retirement purposes and then resume his position in 15 days? What other city employee has the ability to take a personal leave of absence, with pay? Every city of Columbia employee should ask for a leave of absence just like the Chief has been given. A terrible precedence has been set. This sucks.
It seems that a lot of the police departments have an abundance of “retirees” milking the system. Not sure how many are with City of Columbia PD, but I can tell you that many of the ranking officers at the Cayce Police Department are all retired and back on the job in the same positions – including the Chief, Assistant Chief, Chief’s secretary, and three of the five Lieutenants.
Then, someone needs to look at the LE retirement system and re-think the 25 year retirement they have.
First of all, the new city manager is not qualified for the position. It is a travesty that she was hired with a higher salary then the previous city manager. Just another prime example of the corruption that is the city of Columbia.
Having said that, what other city employee has the ability to resign his position for retirement purposes and then resume his position in 15 days? What other city employee has the ability to take a personal leave of absence, with pay? Every city of Columbia employee should ask for a leave of absence just like the Chief has been given. A terrible precedence has been set. This sucks.
It seems that a lot of the police departments have an abundance of “retirees” milking the system. Not sure how many are with City of Columbia PD, but I can tell you that many of the ranking officers at the Cayce Police Department are all retired and back on the job in the same positions – including the Chief, Assistant Chief, Chief’s secretary, and three of the five Lieutenants.
Then, someone needs to look at the LE retirement system and re-think the 25 year retirement they have.
Let’s see….Benjamin tied to gambling, Frazier tied to gambling, Gunter tied to gambling, Brett Parker tied to gambling, Sponseller tied to gambling, Metts tied to gambling.. Oh, and let’s not forget murder.
Let’s see….Benjamin tied to gambling, Frazier tied to gambling, Gunter tied to gambling, Brett Parker tied to gambling, Sponseller tied to gambling, Metts tied to gambling.. Oh, and let’s not forget murder.
This does not sound right in the least. He “retired” to beat the deadline for the retirement system changes. He would have used accrued leave towards his retirement settlement. How much leave could he have accrued in such a short time with Cola? After returning from his 15 day leave of absence he should have been at zero vacation hours balance.
My guess is that the city of Columbia’s response to the lawsuit filed by the fired deputy chief should be due to the plaintiff attorneys. I’m assuming that the answers are not very favorable for Cola.
The cockroaches are running for cover, Scott is now toxic to Benjamin!
This is Columbia’s way of minimizing damage. Expect Scott’s resignation any day.
The SC Insurance Reserve Fund is now deciding how much to write the check for.
This does not sound right in the least. He “retired” to beat the deadline for the retirement system changes. He would have used accrued leave towards his retirement settlement. How much leave could he have accrued in such a short time with Cola? After returning from his 15 day leave of absence he should have been at zero vacation hours balance.
My guess is that the city of Columbia’s response to the lawsuit filed by the fired deputy chief should be due to the plaintiff attorneys. I’m assuming that the answers are not very favorable for Cola.
The cockroaches are running for cover, Scott is now toxic to Benjamin!
This is Columbia’s way of minimizing damage. Expect Scott’s resignation any day.
The SC Insurance Reserve Fund is now deciding how much to write the check for.
Columbia is getting ready to blow up, white Folks! Get the Hell out of town and leave it to Benjamin and whoever takes Randy Scott place!
Columbia is getting ready to blow up, white Folks! Get the Hell out of town and leave it to Benjamin and whoever takes Randy Scott place!
this is a just a another test
this is a just a another test
why is the police department sending emails to employees saying Scott will be back
why is the police department sending emails to employees saying Scott will be back
I know we as a community can do better. We need leaders that stay with the job. Dedicate their lives to the job. Really love and believe in their community. Columbia deserves better!!
I know we as a community can do better. We need leaders that stay with the job. Dedicate their lives to the job. Really love and believe in their community. Columbia deserves better!!