Franklinton, N.C. — Two law enforcement officers in Franklin County have returned to active duty following separate December wrecks that left four people dead.
Franklinton police officer Michael Dunlap has returned to his patrol, while Franklin County deputy Crystal Mitchell is on desk duty, authorities said.
Dunlap was involved in a Dec. 1 chase that ended on U.S. Highway 15 in Granville County when the vehicle he was pursuing was involved in a head-on collision. The subject of the chase, Guy Christopher Ayscue, and two sisters in the third car, Linsay and Maggie Lunsford, died in the wreck.
Authorities determined that the chase reached speeds of 90 mph, violating the Franklinton Police Department's policy that pursuits shouldn't exceed 20 mph above the posted speed limit.
Franklinton Police Chief Ray Gilliam said Dunlap clearly violated department policy, but no disciplinary action has been taken against the officer, pending the results of an internal investigation of the incident.
Dunlap won't lose his job because of the chase and wreck, Gilliam said.
No outside agencies are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the chase and wreck, and no timetable has been set for completing the internal probe.
Gene Edmundson, an attorney for the law firm representing the Lunsford family, said the family was surprised to learn Dunlap returned to work without any punishment.
The case prompted Franklin County Sheriff Pat Green to order a temporary ban on pursuits in the county. Franklinton officials also brought in an independent consultant to review the police department's policies and procedures.
In the second case, Mitchell was on a non-emergency call New Year's Eve when the cruiser she was driving struck and killed Marcus Coppedge on N.C. Highway 39 in Ingleside.
A state Highway Patrol investigation determined Mitchell was traveling more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit when her cruiser struck Coppedge. The investigation also determined that Coppedge was intoxicated at the time.



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I'm tired of people dying for no good reason, whether they be Fire, Rescue, LEO, or just plain old mostly unappreciated citizens.
We've lost three firefighters in NC this year, and two of them were in vehicular accidents responding to calls with no seatbelt on. Every year, a dozen or so firefighters in the US die the same way. There's no excuse for that. However, collectively we have the mentality that the rules don't apply to us, that what happens to our brothers won't happen to us, and we write off those losses as if they can't be prevented.
As someone noted earlier, most injuries / deaths in high-speed chases are law enforcement officers - but they still consider it "hanging it out" a sign of manhood, of authority - it's a respect thing. Until they learn, just as our firefighters need to learn, to work smarter instead of harder they will continue to kill themselves - and innocent bystanders - needlessly.
February 22, 2008 9:04 a.m.
February 21, 2008 5:00 p.m.
Interesting point, but the Supreme Court recently ruled that chases are a necessariy evil and terminating them with a blanket policy would not be in society's best interest. If you think people drive normal after the cops terminate the pursuit then you're sadly mistaken.
February 21, 2008 4:24 p.m.
I actually do not see where i stated that it was a waste of time! My response was that I did not have the time! Truth based on research and fact! It appears that you sir have neither done your research nor gathered the facts. I do not need to gather the truth from places like this nor the mainstream. I base my responses on actually living in the law enforcement world for 19 years! Have you lived in the law enforcement world or are you just another arm chair quarterback who stirs debate over issues he knows very little about or without any experience in that area?
February 21, 2008 4:24 p.m.
February 21, 2008 3:20 p.m.