PIT for Pay Scandal Explodes: Four Georgia State Patrol Troopers Fired — Story Now Covered by Multiple Major Georgia News Outlets
Pay” scandal has been picked up by WSB-TV Atlanta (Channel 2), FOX5 Atlanta, WJCL 22 News (Savannah), WSAV 3, The Georgia Virtue, Yahoo News, and others. The rapid statewide media coverage highlights how seriously Georgians are taking allegations that sworn law enforcement officers turned police pursuits into personal profit.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety’s internal investigation, four troopers from the Chatham County-based Nighthawks South unit and Rincon Post 42 used the Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT maneuver) during vehicle pursuits — then filed or attempted to file personal injury claims against the very drivers they pursued. The troopers reportedly sent crash reports to a private attorney, who issued demand letters to insurance companies seeking the $25,000 minimum policy limit for alleged “stress, soreness, and anxiety” — even in “clean” PIT maneuvers with no documented injuries or medical treatment.
The troopers identified in the investigation and media reports are:
TFC2 Hunter Waters (received three $25,000 settlements)
TFC1 Tyler Byrd (submitted more than a dozen reports and received two settlements)
TFC1 Isaiah Francois
SFC Joseph Curlee (supervisor who knew about the practice)
All four have been fired. The Department of Public Safety stated that the conduct violated multiple policies, including prohibitions on accepting unauthorized compensation related to official duties and creating the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Why This “PIT for Pay” Scandal Matters to Georgia DUI Defendants
At George C. Creal Jr., P.C. Trial Lawyers, we defend DUI cases across Georgia every single day — many of which begin with a high-speed pursuit or PIT maneuver by the Georgia State Patrol. When the same officers who allegedly profited from these maneuvers are the ones writing reports and testifying in court, it raises serious questions about credibility and motive.
The widespread media coverage now makes this issue impossible to ignore. It gives defense attorneys powerful new tools to:
Challenge officer credibility on the stand
Scrutinize pursuit-related stops, crash reports, and field sobriety testing
Explore motions to suppress evidence in cases involving GSP troopers from the Chatham County / Savannah or Rincon areas
The DPS itself acknowledged that while legitimate injuries during pursuits can justify claims, the systematic submission of reports for quick settlements — especially without medical treatment — is “extremely unusual” and damages public trust.
Police Accountability Is a Cornerstone of Fair DUI Defense
Incidents like this are exactly why experienced DUI defense matters. At George C. Creal Jr., P.C., we don’t just accept the officer’s version of events. We dig into the details — dash-cam video, body-cam footage, pursuit policies, crash reports, and now, patterns of misconduct exposed in this growing scandal.
If you or a loved one was arrested for DUI after a pursuit involving Georgia State Patrol troopers, this story could directly impact your case.
Don’t leave your future to chance.
Contact the experienced Georgia DUI trial lawyers at George C. Creal Jr., P.C. today for a confidential case evaluation. We fight for clients across Metro Atlanta and the entire state — from Fulton and Clayton to Chatham and beyond.
