The story in plain English

In January 2026, Georgia DPS began examining whether State Patrol troopers had sought personal-injury payments from drivers’ insurers after police pursuits that ended with intentional vehicle-contact tactics, including the Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT). An agency investigation examined demand letters, crash reports, settlement releases and interviews. Four troopers—Hunter Waters, Tyler Byrd, Isaiah Francois and Joseph Curlee—were fired. DPS attributed the terminations to violations of department policy and ethical standards; the investigation does not by itself establish criminal guilt.

The central issue was not whether officers may ever suffer real injuries in a pursuit. Investigators focused on claims arising from police maneuvers performed as official duties, the way those claims were presented, the absence of injury reporting in some underlying records, and restrictions on seeking compensation connected to official work.

At a glance: what investigators documented

How the investigation unfolded

January 2026: Sgt. Zachery Parker alerted Capt. John Crews to reports of troopers seeking insurance compensation tied to pursuits and PIT maneuvers. DPS assigned Lt. Todd Hinson of the Office of Professional Standards to case IA-0008-2026.

January 29: Parker described conversations about pursuits that might qualify for a “check,” and concerns about claims where no injury had been recorded in a crash report.

February 12 and 18: Investigators interviewed Waters, Byrd, Francois and Curlee. Their statements addressed which incidents were submitted to an attorney, what injuries were claimed, settlement amounts, and whether supervisors knew about the practice. Investigators also questioned Curlee about discussions of the investigation after an instruction not to discuss interviews.

March 26 and April 1: Subsequent disciplinary notices described proposed and final adverse action, according to published reporting of the DPS file. DPS publicly confirmed the four terminations in April.

Why the money and paperwork matter

According to the agency’s executive summary, Waters said an attorney sent approximately eight demand letters and that he received three $25,000 settlements. Byrd said he supplied roughly 15 crash reports and received two settlements. Francois said he expected a settlement, but could not identify the particular incident associated with the pending payment. Investigators reported similarities among demand letters, including requests for $25,000 policy limits, and questioned why some injury claims were not reflected in contemporaneous crash reports.

These details are attributed to the DPS investigation. A demand letter or settlement does not automatically prove that a claim was fraudulent; the agency’s disciplinary findings and any separate insurance, licensing or criminal proceedings must be evaluated on their own records.

Primary source documents — open in a new window

Every document below opens in a separate browser tab. No PDFs are embedded on this page. These links point directly to the original SOS-hosted files, so the documents are not altered or duplicated.

Start with the DPS executive summary

The core account of the interviews, settlement claims, evidence examined and the agency’s conclusions.

Exhibit 1 · Executive summary ↗

Administrative leave notices

Original notices associated with Waters, Byrd, Curlee and Francois.

Exhibit 2 · Waters leave letter ↗Exhibit 3 · Byrd leave letter ↗Exhibit 4 · Curlee / Francois leave letters ↗

Individual personnel and certification records

Supplementary original records associated with named troopers. Read each file for its precise scope, date and status.

Tyler Byrd record ↗Isaiah Francois record ↗Joseph Curlee record ↗

Additional individuals and supporting records

Documents appearing in the original SOS case page. Their inclusion does not imply each person was among the four fired troopers.

Justin Lee record ↗Austin Edwards record ↗

Additional case documents

Preserved source-file links from the original investigation. Some source filenames are generic; verify each document’s heading before drawing conclusions.

Supplemental document 1-1 ↗Supplemental document 1 ↗Supplemental PDF ↗Case-closed PDF ↗

Videos and visual exhibits

These original video and image assets are available as separate links. Videos are not presented as proof of claims beyond what their contents establish.

Original video clips

Watch the archived clips in a new tab.

Hot map video ↗Interview clip ↗Additional interview clip ↗

Subsequent developments reported in 2026

WTOC subsequently reported that Georgia POST opened a certification investigation into the fired troopers, and that the Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s Office was examining the pursuit-related insurance payouts. WTOC also reported that Curlee was hired by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office after leaving GSP and later was no longer employed there by July 2026. A POST investigation is not the same as a certification revocation, and no final licensing outcome is asserted here without a supporting final order.

Independent news coverage

Reporting provides external context, not a substitute for the underlying records.

WTOC investigative coverage and updates ↗ · WSB Radio: four troopers fired ↗ · Georgia Virtue case analysis ↗

What remains unanswered

What did every settlement release disclose? Were any claims contested or recovered? What did Georgia POST ultimately decide about each officer’s certification? Did the insurance investigation produce findings or enforcement action? The available records do not resolve every question. SOS will distinguish new documentary findings from allegations and commentary as updates become available.

Related SOS investigation: demand letters and payouts ↗

Editorial note: The findings described above are attributed to DPS and identified reporting. Personnel actions, policy violations, criminal charges, civil settlements and certification actions are legally distinct. No person is described as criminally convicted without a verified court record. Original documents are linked for independent review.