Two Columbia Police Commanders No Longer Employed After Sponseller Case

Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott fired one employee and accepted the retirement of another as a result of what he referred to as "mishandling and failures" in the Tom Sponseller missing person case. 

The deputy chief of administration/investigations was fired and the captain of investigations retired Thursday, Scott said.

"In this situation, I have reviewed the actions of others and have determined that it is in the best interest of the department and the City to take these personnel actions to keep us moving forward in a positive direction," Scott said in a press release.

Scott announced Wednesday that he was launching an investigation into why investigators failed for 10 days to search Sponseller's desk at the S.C. Hospitality Association office, according to The State. 

Investigators were called back to the office on Tuesday after an emloyee at the association office found a  and the case for a gun in Sponseller's desk. 

They then  of a gunshot wound to the head in a room inside the parking garage at his office building. 

Scott said the investigation into how the case was handled will continue.