Anderson City Council members maintain support of police despite officer conduct lawsuits

Anderson City Council members were unaware of a string of recent lawsuits and settlements involving police officer conduct until the Independent Mail began reviewing court information about the police department.

No council votes were required on the settlements, which totaled $130,000, because they were paid by the city's insurer.

Councilman Don Chapman said, however, that he thinks council members should be consulted regarding settlements "of any litigation of any magnitude" involving the city.

"We need to be aware of it," he said.

More: Anderson Police Department faces 5 lawsuits over officer conduct in 14 months

Anderson County Council members are typically notified by their attorney, Leon Harmon, about all legal settlements.

City Councilman John Roberts said he wasn't bothered by the lack of information that the council received about the police lawsuits.

"As policymakers, we don't get involved with the daily operations," he said.

Roberts said he suspects the city's insurer may have decided unilaterally to settle the police suits.

Reba Campbell, a spokeswoman for the South Carolina Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund, said that was not the case.

Campbell said the officials at the agency, which insures the city of Anderson and other communities throughout the state, "always work closely and collaboratively" with their clients before settling lawsuits. The agency does have the authority to make the final decision on settling suits.

The insurance agency sends a monthly report to the city regarding claims that have been paid, said Danny Crowe, an attorney who spoke on behalf of the agency. He also said the agency consults with the city manager's office or an official designated by the city on each claim.

The city is paying about $1 million this year for comprehensive property and casualty coverage from the municipal insurance and risk financing fund, Crowe said. That amount equals about 1.6 percent of the city's annual budget.

The city's insurance premiums for this year were nearly $13,000, or about 1.3 percent, higher than the previous year, Crowe said. He was uncertain about how the city's rates have been or will be affected by the recently settled suits.

In the past 14 months, five lawsuits have been filed against against the police department. One of the cases is still pending. Another was dismissed Tuesday but could be refiled.

Mayor Terence Roberts, who is not related to Councilmen John Roberts or Buck Roberts, didn't fault Police Chief Jim Stewart's reluctance to answer specific questions about the lawsuits.

"In the current environment that we are in — not only in this community but in the state and nation — I can understand the chief's concerns," he said, adding, "Our people are fair and honest people."

While expressing concern about some of the allegations raised in the recent lawsuits, Councilman Rick Laughridge said he supports Stewart, who has served as the city's police chief since 2013.

"He's as honest of a man and as good of a man that anyone can find," Laughridge said.

Councilman Matt Harbin said he believes the police chief "has done a good job." He said the recent spate of lawsuits might be related to staff turnover that plagued the police department before a series of pay raises were approved in this year's budget.

Councilman Tony Stewart, who is not related to Chief Stewart, said he is troubled that the Anderson Police Department hired Colin Martin after he faced excessive-force allegations at two other law enforcement agencies. Martin's actions played a central role in one of the recent suits that the city settled for $55,000. He resigned from the department several months ago.

"Why do we keep hiring these type of officers who are going to present problems after they have presented problems elsewhere?" he asked.

Chapman said he has "the utmost confidence in our police department."

"We have excellent men and women throughout the police department who put their lives on the line every day for the community," he said.

Chapman said poor examples can be found in almost every profession.

"There are bad priests, there are bad doctors and there are bad architects," said Chapman, who is an architect.

Follow Kirk Brown on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM and email him at kirk.brown@independentmail.com