DOCUMENT: Letter from Gantt to Carter amp; Carter's Reply Colonel Carl Burke has been appointed as the Interim Police Chief.Carter had been chief since 2008. "I am a professional police chief," Carter said in a Monday afternoon news conference where he commented on the matter. Carter had been under criticism for his handling of the investigation of a car collision involving Columbia Mayor-Elect Steve Benjamin.Last week, City Manager Steve Gantt directed Carter to request that the Highway Patrol review the investigation, and to brief city council on the investigation's progress. Carter then sought an opinion of South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster to see if Gantt could direct him. Previous Coverage: Carter Asks for Review of Investigation"Tell me what I have done...that has been unlawful," Carter said. "I have acted within the scope of my authority."Carter felt there was no conflict of interest with his office being the investigating agency in the case. He said there has been too much outside influence by politicians."I am not a puppet police chief," Carter said. The former chief said he will file a grievance. As a city employee his grievance would first go to the assistant city manager. If there is an appeal the grievance goes to the City of Columbia employee grievance committee, and then if that is appealed the grievance would go to City Manager Steve Gantt, who would have the final decision. Some reaction to the decision from city leaders has already come in. "I believe the city manager looked at the totality," said Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine. "It didn't just have to only do with this accident investigation. I think there were several things that caused the city manager's concern."Carter had previously served as the police chief in Shelby, North Carolina. He was also a member of the Marine Corps. Carter said he would be looking at other options for his career, including motivational speaking. Police have been investigating the April 21 collision involving Benjamin and Deborah Rubens. Little information has been released so far as to the cause of the collision. Rubens remains in the hospital, where she is said to be making slow but steady improvement. Her lawyer says that she is conscious, but seems unaware of her surroundings. />
