In response to a series of violent incidents in Charleston over the weekend, Mayor William Cogswell today issued the following statement condemning violence and expressing strong support for the Charleston Police Department:
"Charleston will not tolerate violence. If you come to our community to cause trouble, expect to be punished. I commend Chief (Chito) Walker and the Charleston Police Department for their swift response to this weekend’s events."
Mayor Cogswell also announced that in the near future, measures will be proposed to City Council aimed at giving law enforcement additional tools to prevent crime.
"We know the great people of Charleston stand behind the men and women of our department, and we are grateful for their support," he said. "There is always more work to do, but we have the right people to do the job — and they have our full backing."