PIT for Pay: Fired Georgia State Patrol troopers remain certified, one already hired elsewhere

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Four Georgia State Patrol troopers fired for making money off pursuits remain listed as employed by the agency, and one has already started a new law enforcement job.

An investigation by the Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) found two troopers from Chatham and Bulloch’s Nighthawks unit, as well as one trooper from a post in Rincon, were filing personal injury claims against people they had PIT maneuvered. The three collectively made over $110,000 from the practice.

Their supervisor was fired after he tried to cash in as well.

READ: Four Georgia troopers fired after profiting financially from pursuits

Background on the investigation

The investigation began in January 2026 after the Assistant Post Commander of Nighthawks South, reported hearing troopers discuss pursuit-related incidents as opportunities to receive a “check.”

Investigators found that multiple troopers sent crash reports to attorney Tina Maddox, who then issued demand letters to insurance companies seeking payouts for alleged injuries such as stress, soreness and anxiety.

Trooper Hunter Waters acknowledged filing multiple claims despite not reporting injuries at the time of the incidents. He received three settlements of $25,000 each, netting roughly $50,000 after legal fees.

Trooper Tyler Byrd admitted to submitting more than a dozen crash reports to Maddox and receiving two settlements. He said the practice was a way to supplement his salary, much like off-duty employment.

Trooper Isaiah Francois said he expected a settlement but could not recall the specific incident tied to the claim.

Sergeant Joseph Curlee, a supervisor who was aware of the practice, took no action to stop it and even consulted Maddox about filing a claim of his own.

The demand letters sent on behalf of the troopers were nearly identical, seeking the minimum insurance policy limit of $25,000 and giving insurers 30 days to respond. The letters never identified the claimants as police officers, or that the crashes happened on the job.

Certification records not updated

Records from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST), which oversees all law enforcement officers in the state, don’t reflect that any of the troopers have been fired. The records show Waters, Francois and Byrd as being employed by GSP, even though the agency said they’ve been fired.

The investigation ended on April 2.

The records also show Curlee started working at the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff on April 7, less than a week after the investigation concluded. His POST records reflect his new job but don’t show he ever stopped working for GSP.

WTOC Investigates reached out to POST Monday morning to find out whether GSP had notified the agency of the firings. At 10 a.m., a spokesperson said POST had not been notified. We then reached out to GSP to find out why POST had not been notified. A spokesperson responded after 3 p.m. that “there is an administrative process to be followed on any investigative case being processed and reported to POST. Georgia POST is aware of our investigation, and it has been reported to them.”

Application disclosed partial reason for firing

Records obtained by WTOC Investigates show on his application to the Sheriff’s Office, Curlee stated he had been fired from a previous job for “other disciplinary reasons.” He stated he supervised personnel that violated policy and he was dismissed for not contacting troop command.

He did not mention that part of the reason he was dismissed was that he tried to benefit from his own personal injury claims, which is what got the others fired.

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.