South-Carolina

Law enforcement driving training in South Carolina limited by time, resources

Published

2 years ago

August 8, 2022

Law enforcement driving training in South Carolina limited by time, resources

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Driving comes with the territory in holding our communities secure for regulation enforcement, however these tasked with that accountability can typically discover themselves concerned in a lethal scene on the roads.

Early final month, 24-year-old Raudnesia Waring died after North Charleston police officer Jeremy Kraft hit her automotive whereas he was headed to a taking pictures.

Dashcam video reveals the officer appeared to run via a pink gentle at an intersection moments earlier than.

Just a few months earlier than that, Charleston County deputy Emily Pelletier was responding to a non-emergency name on Mom’s Day evening when her automotive collided with one other, killing a mom and two daughters.

Inner and exterior reviews state she didn’t cease at a cease signal and was going greater than twice the velocity restrict earlier than the crash with no lights on.

Pelletier was charged with three counts of reckless murder and terminated from the sheriff’s workplace.

Driving coaching for regulation enforcement officers

On the South Carolina Felony Justice Academy, recruits spend about one week on a closed course out of 12 weeks whole in Columbia.

It’s required by each officer and deputy within the state earlier than they’re cleared for the roads.

College students study on Ford Crown Victorias, given to the academy by the South Carolina Division of Public Security as soon as they’re now not in service.

Although it’s a automotive you almost certainly received’t see an officer driving on the roads these days, Kevin Gilliam says the abilities realized are the identical. Gilliam, a longtime driving teacher on the academy, teaches each sensible driving strategies and legal guidelines related to how officers conduct themselves on the roads.

“Regulation enforcement officers…are allowed to do sure issues of their licensed emergency automobile, these exceptions are solely utilized once they’re making use of lights and sirens,” he mentioned.

That features parking wherever obligatory. Parallel parking is likely one of the abilities trainees are examined on.

State regulation does enable for regulation enforcement to drive via a cease signal or a pink gentle however at a velocity “obligatory for secure operation.”

The academy teaches college students to cease at each intersection on the course. If not, they may get an “unsatisfactory” marking. Gilliam says they can not get greater than two throughout their check, however they could be given one other alternative to keep away from having to repeat the part.

Trainees additionally can’t hit any one of many virtually 500 orange cones. The check varies in size, however is often round 4 minutes or so.

It is because recruits are taught to drive at solely 80% of their potential, which could look totally different on everyone.

“I preach to the scholars right here that they want to have the ability to stick with themselves. Pursuits, emergency responses, they’re thrilling. There’s no query about it. Very thrilling. The issue is once we get so excited that we begin doing issues that we wouldn’t usually do,” Gilliam mentioned.

In that point, trainees should drive in reverse, weave out and in of cones, make tight turns and say what shade barrel they see alongside the intersections earlier than stepping on the fuel once more.

Departments can even present supplemental, agency-specific coaching.

The Charleston Police Division requires its new hires to endure each classroom and sensible driving programs. It additionally has refresher coaching yearly.

“Like all the pieces else. I imply, we stock a firearm, we now have a taser. Now we have OC spray. Now we have a baton that we get skilled in. You understand, that principally has an impression on how we use it or how its operation is put into play. Our autos are the identical approach,” Sgt. Lee Mixon mentioned.

North Charleston Police Division and the Charleston County Sheriff’s Workplace does as effectively.

The Sheriff’s Workplace requires new deputies to coach underneath a area coaching teacher and have to be cleared by a overview board earlier than they’re assigned a automobile.

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Workplace doesn’t present further driving coaching past what the academy does for brand new deputies however does have annual coaching.

Time, assets restrict coaching

“We’d love for it to be so much longer, however I perceive the constraints,” Gilliam mentioned.

The course is a “choke level” Gilliam mentioned. They’ll solely deal with so many drivers at one time, and time is restricted.

In actuality, he says, the week spent behind the week is extra like half per week, as there are teams that go within the morning and at lunch.

“We’re giving them the bottom. It’s not attainable to arrange them for all the pieces that they’re going to come across. That would by no means occur,” Gilliam mentioned. “However hopefully they’ll take it on themselves. Take the strategies that we’ve talked about, take the protection points that we’ve talked about, depart right here put these issues in play, enhance on them and simply be as secure as they will presumably be.”

The academy can accommodate about 35 to 50 college students each two weeks.

“I don’t suppose officers might ever obtain sufficient coaching,” Mixon mentioned. “If we might add one other week of coaching, I feel it could be that significantly better.”

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How to watch: No. 5 Alabama basketball at South Carolina

Published

5 hours ago

January 8, 2025

Press Room

How to watch: No. 5 Alabama basketball at South Carolina

A blowout win over Oklahoma in Alabama’s SEC opener was great to see, but Nate Oats is interested in learning how his team’s success will translate on the road in conference play. The head coach will get his wish this week as the No. 5 Crimson Tide travels to South Carolina on Wednesday before visiting No. 10 Texas A&M on Saturday.

“Looking forward to our first conference road game,” Oats said. “These are games where you find out if your team is going to be able to compete for a championship or not.”

First up for Alabama (12-2, 1-0) is a matchup against South Carolina (10-4, 0-1). The Gamecocks will be looking to shake off an ugly start to SEC play after suffering an 85-50 defeat to Mississippi State over the weekend. Alabama is currently a 10.5-point favorite heading into the matchup. However, Oats is expecting to face a much better South Carolina team when the Tide takes the court inside Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday night.

“This is a team that has beaten Clemson at home,” Oats said. “They’ve been a little bit up and down. Obviously, they didn’t play well against Mississippi State – we all saw that score. But I think we should expect a team more like what played Clemson than what played Mississippi State. Coming off that loss, I’m sure Coach Paris will have them ready to go.”

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Alabama’s first SEC road game of the season.

How to watch

Who: No. 5 Alabama (12-2, 1-0) vs. South Carolina (10-4, 0-1)

When: 6 p.m. CT, Wednesday, Jan. 8

Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia S.C.

Watch: SEC Network (Play-By-Play: Dave Neal, Analyst: Ron Slay)

Listen: Crimson Tide Sports Network | SIRIUS/XM 134/201 (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Analyst: Bryan Passink, Sideline: Roger Hoover)

Alabama’s projected starters

Mark Sears: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, graduate

Stats: 18.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.4 apg, 40.5% FG, 33.3% 3-pt

Labaron Philon: 6-foot-4, 177 pounds, freshman

Stats: 12.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.0 apg, 53.5% FG, 28.3% 3-pt

Jarin Stevenson: 6-foot-11, 215 pounds, sophomore

Stats: 4.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 35.0% FG, 20.9% 3-pt

Grant Nelson: 6-foot-11, 230 pounds, graduate

Stats: 13.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 55.9% FG, 28.6% 3-pt

Clifford Omoruyi: 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, graduate

Stats: 7.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 0.7 apg, 73.6% FG

South Carolina’s projected starters

Jamarii Thomas: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, senior

Stats: 12.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.5 apg, 37.4% FG, 36.8% 3-pt

Jacobi Wright: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, senior

Stats: 8.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 41.3% FG, 41.0% 3-pt

Zachary Davis: 6-foot-7, 200 pounds, junior

Stats: 9.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 45.7% FG, 28.1% 3-pt

Collin Murray-Boyles: 6-foot-8, 245 pounds, sophomore

Stats: 15.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 61.8% FG, 33.3% 3-pt

Nick Pringle: 6-foot-10, 220 pounds, graduate

Stats: 10.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 66.7% FG

Alabama’s rising young star

At this point, the only reminders that Labaron Philon is still a freshman are the conference awards he continues to rack up. The starting guard certainly hasn’t been playing like a first-year player.

Philon earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors for a second straight week, following a strong performance against Oklahoma over the weekend. The Mobile, Alabama native recorded 16 points on 5 of 10 shooting against the Sooners, tallying five assists, four rebounds and a pair of steals. It marked his 10th double-digit scoring performance and the fifth time he posted five or more assists in a game. Philon now leads the conference with three SEC Freshman of the Week Awards this season.

Following Tuesday’s practice, Oats was asked what he’s seeing from Philon now that he wasn’t seeing when the guard first joined Alabama over the summer.

“That’s a good question because he was pretty good in the preseason,” Oats responded. “He’s definitely got some experience. I think he understands that every play matters. … He’s starting to realize that the margin for error at this level is pretty thin, so every play matters — both offense and defense.”

Nelson’s improved numbers

Mark Sears gets more attention, but the other returning starter from last season’s Final Four run is putting up some impressive numbers as well. Grant Nelson logged his fourth double-double of the season against Oklahoma, scoring 12 points to go with 11 rebounds while also chipping in a pair of blocks and steals.

The graduate forward’s double-double tally should be even higher. He finished one rebound away from the feat during wins over North Carolina and Rutgers and a point away in the win over Kent State. Nelson also finished two rebounds away from a double-double in victories over South Dakota State and Illinois.

Nelson currently leads Alabama with 8.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while ranking second on the team averaging 13.1 points. He is making 55.9% of attempts from the floor, including 28.6% from beyond the arc. Each one of those stats is an improvement from last year when he was battling through some bumps and bruises while adjusting to an increased level of play following his transfer from North Dakota State.

“I think he’s been a lot more aggressive on the glass. I think he’s just being more assertive. He’s getting to the rim,” Oats said. “He’s been shooting the 3 a little bit better here the last week or two. If we can get him to keep his foot on the line he’s have three more 3s the last two games, but he has been shooting it better. We’re trying to post him a little more because he can pass out of it. He was turning it over a month or so ago, he’s done a better job of that, not turning it over when we post him.”

While Nelson’s post play has improved, the addition of Rutgers transfer center Cliff Omoruyi has allowed him to play more at his preferred four position. That’s given Nelson more opportunities to use his 6-foot-11 frame to his advantage against smaller competition.

Short-handed South Carolina

The Gamecocks will be down a starter on Wednesday night, as Myles Stute was ruled out indefinitely with a left lower leg deep vein thrombosis (blood clot). Stue has started all 14 games for South Carolina this season, averaging 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists. He will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by Zachary Davis or Morris Ugusuk.

Game notes

— Sears became the fifth player in program history with 1,500 points and 200 three-pointers in their Alabama career.

— Since the start of last season Alabama has scored 100 points or more in 14 games, which ranks No. 1 throughout Division I.

— Since Oats arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2019-20, Alabama is tied with Kentucky for a league-best 63 wins during SEC play.

— South Carolina has made 10 or more 3-pointers four times this season, winning each one of them.

— The Gamecocks have eight South Carolina natives on their roster, including former Alabama player Nick Pringle.

— South Carolina is 11-1 when shooting 50% or better under third-year head coach Lamont Paris. That includes a 3-0 mark this season.

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Capitals re-assign forward prospect Zac Funk to ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Published

13 hours ago

January 8, 2025

Press Room

Capitals re-assign forward prospect Zac Funk to ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Washington Capitals forward prospect Zac Funk was re-assigned to the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays on Tuesday.

Funk, who began the 2024-25 season in the AHL, hasn’t suited up in a game with the Hershey Bears since December 22 and was without a point in his last five appearances.

Funk, playing in his rookie season professionally, was scratched in Hershey’s first seven games of the year before carving out a regular spot in the lineup in November and December. The 21-year-old winger played in 13 games and scored his first AHL goal and registered his first AHL point on November 16 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Funk registered only one other point, an assist, on November 30 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before eventually being subbed out of the lineup.

“Every player has to show us as an organization that you are gonna earn a spot on this team,” Todd Nelson said earlier in the season. “We’re the Hershey Bears. You have to earn your spot here. It’s just the way it is. We have to let the chips fall as they may.”

Funk will join fellow Capitals forward prospect Alexander Suzdalev in the ECHL. Suzdalev, who was sent to the Stingrays on October 31, has 18 points (7g, 11a) in his first 19 games with South Carolina.

Funk is in the Capitals organization after leading the entire CHL in goals during his final season in junior hockey. Funk scored 67 goals as he played on the same line with Capitals’ 2024 first-round pick Terik Parascak with the Prince George Cougars.

Funk signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Capitals on March 1.

Here’s the press release from the Hershey Bears:

ZAC FUNK RE-ASSIGNED TO SOUTH CAROLINA

Rookie has three points in 13 games with Hershey

(Hershey, PA–Jan. 7, 2025) – The Washington Capitals, the National Hockey League affiliate of the Hershey Bears, announced today that the club has re-assigned forward Zac Funk to the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. The announcement was made by Washington senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick.
Funk, 21, has skated in 13 games with Hershey this season, posting three points (1g, 2a). He tallied his first career AHL points on Nov. 16 at Lehigh Valley, scoring a goal and an assist in a 6-3 win.
He recorded 123 points (67g, 56a) in 68 games with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season. Funk led the WHL in goals, power-play goals (31), plus/minus (+56) and ranked second in points and fourth in shots (323). He had eight hat tricks while serving as an alternate captain for Prince George, and he was named a finalist for WHL Player of the Year. In the playoffs, Funk posted 18 points (8g, 10a) in 15 games with the Cougars.
Funk was signed by the Capitals on March 1, 2024 to a three-year, entry-level contract.

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BREAKING: Utah State Star Transfer RB Rahsul Faison Commits to South Carolina

Published

21 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

BREAKING: Utah State Star Transfer RB Rahsul Faison Commits to South Carolina

The South Carolina Gamecocks have landed one of the top available players in the transfer portal. Utah State running back Rahsul Faison, a standout performer this past season, has committed to join the program, according to On3Sports.

Faison, standing at 6-foot and weighing 200 pounds, delivered an impressive 2024 season at Utah State. The dynamic ball carrier totaled 198 rushing attempts, amassing 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns. His consistent production and physical presence made him a highly coveted name in the transfer market.

South Carolina’s addition of Faison is significant as the team continues to bolster its backfield depth. With his ability to break tackles and produce big plays, Faison could become an immediate impact player for the Gamecocks in the SEC.

This move also reflects the Gamecocks’ aggressive approach to the transfer portal under head coach Shane Beamer, who has consistently sought to bring in experienced talent to complement the team’s young roster.

Stay tuned for more updates as South Carolina builds momentum heading into the 2025 season.

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