NORWAY, SC (WIS) – State Law Enforcement Division agents continue investigating whether Norway mayor Jim Preacher had the legal authority to pull over a Highway Patrolman after the trooper ticketed Preacher on Jan. 18. Preacher claims he was working as a constable, conducting an active investigation into an armed robbery the night the trooper stopped him.
The trooper issued Preacher a four-point, $185 fine on a speeding charge after the trooper clocked the mayor running 70 in a 55 miles per hour zone. Preacher was driving Norway's unmarked police car.
SLED records show that Preacher does not hold a current constable certification, nor has he ever applied for one since he lost his law enforcement certification in Feb. 2010. Preacher lost his certification when Ehrhardt town council voted to fire Preacher as the town's police chief. Preacher has been unemployed since.
SLED, through the Constable Advisory Council, issues and maintains constable records and issues policies that govern "State Constables." The first step in receiving a certification would be to complete an application through SLED. SLED said Preacher did not complete an application.
The SLED constable policy manual mandates that constables work alongside a certified, full-time law enforcement officer "at all times." The trooper's dash camera video shows Preacher working alone out of uniform the night of the traffic stop.
The policy manual also states that constables "may not…operate a vehicle…with a visible blue light." The trooper's video shows Preacher light up his blue lights in the Norway police car as soon as the trooper started to pull him over two weeks ago.
SLED prohibits constables from receiving a salary as part of their position, but Preacher told WIS that Norway is paying him an annual salary of $32,000 for his position of "Chief Constable." Preacher said Monday the town hired a second man as a constable, earning an annual salary of $25,000.
"I'm not talking about it," Preacher told WIS Wednesday as he sat inside the town's unmarked Dodge Charger. "I'm not talking about it, it's an ongoing investigation," Preacher said. However, Preacher confirmed that he has not been interviewed by SLED since the Jan. 18 traffic stop.
NORWAY CREATES "CONSTABLE" POLICE FORCE
With an unanimous vote during the town's special called Jan. 9 meeting, Preacher said council voted to establish a "Law Enforcement Department." The vote gave the mayor the power to appoint a "Chief Constable." Preacher is also the town's mayor.
Under the ordinance, Preacher would "supervise" the department and would receive a salary from the town's budget.
The ordinance allows council to appoint employees of the "Law Enforcement Department," and appoint constables who would work under Preacher. The ordinance would allow Norway's constables arrest powers and gives council the power to make decisions dealing with "security of business establishments and any other matters of public safety."
The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy plans to ask the State Attorney General's office for an opinion as to whether a municipality such as Norway has the power to use employees the town defines as "constables" instead of state-certified law enforcement officers to operate a police force.
SLED's investigation into Preacher's Jan 18 traffic stop of a State Trooper continues.
Related story:
SCDPS releases video of mayor pulling trooper over
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Norway mayor Jim Preacher leaves a business Wednesday, driving the town's unmarked Dodge Charger police car. (Source: Jody Barr)
Norway mayor Jim Preacher leaves a business Wednesday, driving the town's unmarked Dodge Charger police car. (Source: Jody Barr)
