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.