An Irmo police officer was fired for stealing political signs throughout Irmo, but the candidate whose signs were taken is calling for his reinstatement.

On Jan. 26, Irmo Police Officer Lee Haley was terminated for taking political signs for Gabriel Penfield, who is once again running for an open council seat on Irmo Town Council, with the state Law Enforcement Division reporting that it is investigating the incident.

Renée Wunderlich, director of public information for SLED, informed the Chronicle Feb. 1 that SLED was requested to take over the case Jan. 29, three days after the incident, by the Irmo department. She states that the larcen investigation is active and ongoing, being unable to provide more information due to the open status.

Penfield, who was barely edged out of an at-large seat on council in November by Phyllis Coleman, is running again in a Feb. 27 special election to take over the remainder of the term vacated by Bill Danielson when he was elected mayor. He is running against George Frazier, who also ran for council last fall but was declared ineligible due to not declaring his move from Richland County to Lexington County 30 days before the election, as is required. The winner will serve on council through 2025.

According to Irmo Police Chief Bobby Dale, he became aware of the matter with the signs around 8:40 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26, and by noon the department’s investigation and interviews were complete, with Haley admitting to stealing the signs.

“One of the things that I've told our staff is that we arrest people for stealing all the time,” Dale said. “You’re a police officer, you know that you can't steal.”

The chief added that throughout the investigation, there was the question of another officer being involved in the thefts, but it was determined that he didn’t take part. Haley had been with the department for nearly three years. Dale said he never had to take any previous serious disciplinary actions against him.

Dale said he’s proud of his department for getting in front of the incident, adding that by doing so it kept the department out of muddy waters.

Penfield shared a similar sentiment.

“I think the Irmo Police Department acted swiftly and accurately,” he said. “Chief Dale made the appropriate decision given the position that he was in. I personally feel that that's the only option that really he had to take.”

“Personally I think that taking signs, while it is a misdemeanor and punishable by law, it is pretty, pretty juvenile,” he added.

Despite being the victim, Penfield told the Chronicle that he is calling for the reinstatement of Haley, adding that people gain wisdom from making bad decisions. 

“He made an error in judgment and losing his job and having what he did being covered by news outlets, is certainly embarrassing enough,” Penfield said. “I know that my personal values are that I have made errors of judgment, and sometimes I've had to pay a consequence and other times I've been given grace. My choice in the matter is to give grace.”

According to Penfield, Haley told him that he took down 10 signs, explaining that they talked and Haley reimbursed him the $100 value of the signs. The candidate claimed that almost 40 signs are missing, telling the Chronicle that his dentist sent him a video of a citizen taking other signs. 

Penfield said that video has been referred to SLED as well and hinted that the license plate cameras throughout the town could be used to check the cars that have been in the area.

The signs went missing along Woodrow Street, Columbia Avenue, College Street, Broad River Road and within private neighborhood locations.

The candidate said the incident is disappointing since campaigning takes time and effort, adding that you don’t get paid to run for council and that you barely get paid to serve. Penfield said that every place a sign has been placed is somewhere where permission has been granted.