Ryan Terrell, a former lieutenant with the North Charleston Police Department in South Carolina, was demoted for misusing city-wide cameras to spy on his wife. Terrell used the cameras to track his wife on three occasions before discovering her alleged affair with a colleague in a Target parking lot. His behavior was brought to light when he threatened to harm a sergeant suspected of having a romantic relationship with his wife. Colleagues reported him to the Office of Professional Standards out of concern for his threats.
Officials launched an investigation into Terrell’s behavior after the alleged threat to harm the sergeant. The investigation involved interviews with Terrell, his wife, and the sergeant, and it was determined that the threat was empty. However, during the investigation, Terrell admitted that he had used department-owned cameras throughout the city to monitor his wife. He claimed that he did so out of concern for her safety, but further analysis showed he had used the cameras excessively for spying on her.
Records showed that Terrell had accessed the live feed from the city’s cameras on at least three occasions to spy on his wife. This included the day he discovered her alleged affair in a Target parking lot. As the overseer of the city’s camera system, Terrell had easy access to these devices. As a result of his actions, Terrell was demoted to Master Patrol Officer and placed on probation for six months. He was also removed from his position as the camera system overseer and had his access to the technology revoked.
Terrell’s career in criminal justice began in the US Navy as a Master-at-Arms before working as a corrections officer at the Charleston County Detention Center. He joined the North Charleston Police Department in 2008. The misuse of power by Terrell highlights the consequences of abusing authority and engaging in unethical behavior within the law enforcement profession. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in ensuring that those in positions of authority are held responsible for their actions. Terrell’s demotion and probation serve as a warning to other officers about the severe repercussions of using department resources for personal reasons.
