Volunteer Committee to Study Franklinton Police Procedures

Franklinton, N.C. — The town of Franklinton is putting police pursuits under a microscope after a deadly chase killed two sisters.

Town Attorney Mitch Styers said Tuesday night a committee was being appointed to study the standard operating procedures of the police department – not specifically the deadly chase and crash.

"They are not going to look at any incident. They are going to look at revising the procedures," Styers said.

On Dec. 1, Franklinton Police Officer Michael Dunlap chased Guy Christopher Ayscue at speeds reaching 90 mph, crossing into Granville County before Ayscue's car slammed into a car on U.S. Highway 15, killing sisters Linsay and Maggie Lunsford. Ayscue was also killed in the fiery crash.

The volunteer committee, which is still being formed, will consist of at least the following six people:

Former Chapel Hill Police Chief Gregg Jarvis
Retired Raleigh Police Major Dennis Lane
A Franklinton commissioner
Current Franklinton Police Chief Ray Gilliam
Former Franklinton Town Manager Sharon Garner
A Franklinton citizen

Styers said he hopes to add someone from the Department of Justice to the committee.

Outgoing Mayor Jenny Edwards said assembling the committee was the right thing to do.

"It is a proactive measure, not that anyone has felt that anything was wrong, but we want to make sure the policies are the best they can be," Edwards said.

A final list of committee names must be delivered to the town board at their January meeting. Styers said he expects the study to be complete in about six months.

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Latest Comments

Elantra, where did that come from?

neutral observer
December 19, 2007 10:25 p.m.

High cost, poor dependability, poor gas mileage, outrageous repair and maintenance costs the only redeemable thing about a beemer is performance but you don't want one that travels over 75 mph so whats the point of owing one? Save some money and get a Volvo the next time. But lets not kid each other until you get that elantra payed off you won't be stepping up to even a Honda huh.

68_polara
December 19, 2007 7:17 p.m.

Firstgenchevy, Very well said! Its the idiots driving like maniacs that are the problem. Its all about being responsible. Don't get up late and have to speed to work. Relax and give yourself a little more time. It's better to get to your destination a little late than to wind up hurt badly or dead. I still can't find a reason not to govern all vehicles.

neutral observer
December 19, 2007 3:58 p.m.

Arguing to people about cars and speeding won't get you any where but it will make your fingers hurt.

And just a clue. The people that are speeding and paying attention to what they are doing are not the problem.

The people that are going 80mph on I-40 when everyone else is going 75, weaving in and out of traffic without using a turn signal, and not paying ANY attention to what they are doing are the problem. Those are the people you need to be mad at.

Speed does kill. Speed is ALWAYS a factor in a car wreck. Why? Because if both cars where going 0mph there wouldn't have been a wreck in the first place.

Back on topic. The guy that was driving the car that hit the 2 girls was going to kill someone at some point. I'm sorry that it had to be those 2 girls, but with the chatch and release program we have in place...there wasn't a whole lot the officer could have done anyway.

Catch him.. let him go the next day then he would have killed someone else...its lose lose...

firstgenchevy
December 19, 2007 3:51 p.m.

It does'nt really matter to me, polara 68, you drive your dodges and toyota's and I'll drive my BMW. I never keep a vehicle over 50K anyway. The thought of being in a crash with a celica scares me. Great engines but poor bodies. What's reliability or gas mileage when you are hurt badly or dead?

neutral observer
December 19, 2007 3:51 p.m.