Truth & Rumors > NCAAF
Cop who ticketed Dabo Swinney fired
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10:24 AM ET 09.22 | Michael McClatchy was an officer for the Pickens Police Department in Pickens, S.C. On Sept. 3, McClatchy pulled over a vehicle for speeding. As it turned out, the driver of the vehicle was Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, who claimed he was late to a radio show he was doing at the local Bi-Lo, which is where McClatchy had pulled over Swinney. Swinney had been doing 63 mph in a 35, and received his speeding ticket while signing autographs for fans waiting outside the store for his radio show. Eleven days later, on Sept. 14, after rumors of Swinney's speeding ticket began making the rounds on message boards -- because what else is there to talk about on a message board? -- McClatchy decided he had to let the world know what happened. In the posting, the officer said he didn't plan on posting about the incident, but "wanted to clear the air for all involved." The officer said he believed Swinney "thought he would be excused for the violation and continue to his appointment." He said Swinney and his brother were asked to have a seat in the vehicle, which they did not. The officer also said the Bi-Lo store manager approached him and told him a city official was on the phone and would like to speak with him, but the officer declined. According to the officer, Swinney's brother said that he was a retired Alabama police officer with more than 30 years of experience and asked the officer to take the fact into consideration. McClatchy also wrote that Swinney gave him "an unfriendly glare" before leaving and entering the Bi-Lo. McClatchy was then fired six days later for what police chief Rodney Gregory called a "violation of city computer policy, violation of code of ethics and violation of general orders."
Dabo Swinney, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
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Comments (83) Add A Comment
Driving 63 mph in a 35 mph zone is not excusable. There was no emergency. This is how people get killed and Swinney is not above the law. Yeah the officer shouldn't have posted about the event but that doesn't absolve Swinney.
Dr. B-f-G
Bubbaville, TX
Total Comments (7798)
Good grief...even "Law west of the Pecos" isn't this bad.
Deep Creek
Total Comments (17835)
Was it in a Prius though?
Armpit
Total Comments (10173)
Oh, NM, this is Clemson, not Tennessee.
Armpit
Total Comments (10173)
Pickens, South Carolina.
Big time (LOL) football coach is late for a appearance at a Bi-Lo store (LOL).
Police officer tries to do his job in front of the store.
Big time (LOL) football coach doesn't cooperate.
Store manager calls a city official.
Officer ultimately gets fired.
Redneck justice.
Dr. B-f-G
Bubbaville, TX
Total Comments (7798)
Yah, hard to feel to sorry for a d-baggish dude whose job in life is to raise revenue via traffic tickets, but this is a pretty good example of corruption in action.
Armpit
Total Comments (10173)
Careful now! What some people call "corruption" is considered normal in some parts of the south especially when it comes to college football!
Dr. B-f-G
Bubbaville, TX
Total Comments (7798)
I am suggesting most speed limits do not accurately reflect any sort of safety parameters at all and are merely another tool to separate money from citizens. And further, that those who do this job are mostly ****.
Armpit
Total Comments (10173)
Swinney and his brother are shameless. Playing the celebrity card in front of the Bi-Lo? Please!
Big Al 13
Charlottesville, VA
Total Comments (80)
Don't get me wrong, cops that actually investigate crimes are important to society and are greatly needed, but the Barney Fife's of America who set up shop and simply bring in cash are annoying parasites.
Armpit
Total Comments (10173)
If this had happened in Columbia, the officer would've got a commendation, a raise, and an extra week's vacation.
GR=O-6fan
Bumfrack, TX
Total Comments (12206)
I sure hope so., if this article is correct, then Officer McLatchey should sue the crap out of the city of Pickens, S.C.!!!!!!!
The Oldtimer
Total Comments (23116)
The clemson coach should be fired for having a name like dabo swinney... what a rube/....
BushIsRight
Total Comments (727)
What ever
HAIL TO THE VICTORS!
Total Comments (680)
Interesting but not a huge surprise. In NE the big scam is all the cops getting overtime hanging out at construction sites. Not exactly sure what the need for them is (elsewhere in the country where I have lived people screwing with construction crews does not appear to be a problem)-but it does make everything more expensive to maintain and build....
In any event, my original point of a corrupt official getting rid of a nuisance still stands. Hard to feel bad for the guy.
Armpit
Total Comments (10173)
LMFAO, "whatever" you say???? What the hell does that mean????? :-)
The Oldtimer
Total Comments (23116)
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