Charleston Police Lt. Shawn Williams talks to the media on the West Side in April. Williams has been suspended from the force and is under investigation.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Charleston police lieutenant on paid administrative leave is under investigation for making racially insensitive video recordings, sources familiar with the investigation said.
Lt. Shawn Williams, of the Charleston Police Department, was placed on leave last week pending an investigation by the Police Department’s professional standards division. The investigation was triggered after police obtained video recordings taken from Williams’ computer, according to those familiar with the investigation.
Two sources who have seen the recordings say the videos depict Williams’ young daughter dressed in what appear to be articles of a police uniform and dancing to an anthem of the Ku Klux Klan. The refrain of the song repeats the words, “Stand up and be counted, show the world that you’re a man. Stand up and be counted, go with the Ku Klux Klan.”
On the videos, a man alleged to be Williams can be heard asking the girl questions. Derogatory racial language can be heard, sources said. Sources said there were several similar videos on the computer.
Williams said Monday he could not comment on the allegations.
“My wife and I are in the middle of a difficult and painful divorce,” he said. “Neither of us can or should disclose or comment on deeply personal matters involving our children, who are my first concern. These matters involve a sealed court proceeding.”
Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster said he could not talk about the investigation because it involves personnel issues. He said he did not know how long the investigation might take.
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