Georgetown, South Carolina
February 20, 2026
A jury today returned a verdict of Not Guilty in the case of State v. Cassandra Dollard, bringing to a close a case that required jurors to evaluate a split-second decision made by a veteran law enforcement officer in the line of duty.
After careful deliberation, the jury found that the State did not meet its burden of proving an unlawful killing beyond a reasonable doubt.
“This verdict reflects what the evidence showed from the beginning,” said defense counsel Rose Mary Parham of Parham Law LLC. “Officer Dollard was confronted with a rapidly evolving and dangerous situation and was forced to make a decision in seconds to protect herself and the public. The jury carefully followed the law and reached the right result.”
Officer Dollard served her community in law enforcement for nearly three decades. During the trial, the defense presented evidence of the circumstances she faced, including a high-risk pursuit, a chaotic crash scene, and a suspect who failed to comply with repeated commands.
The defense team included attorneys Rose Mary Parham, Shipp Daniel, and Ray Chandler along with nationally recognized use-of-force expert Ray Nash. Mr. Nash provided testimony explaining the realities officers face when making threat assessments in tense, uncertain, and rapidly changing situations.
“This case was never about hindsight,” Parham said. “It was about what a reasonable officer is required to do in the moment. The law does not demand perfection. It demands reasonableness under the circumstances.”
The defense emphasized the central principle of the criminal justice system: the State bears the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
“We are grateful that the jury took that responsibility seriously,” Parham said. “Criminal liability cannot be based on speculation, second-guessing, or the benefit of hindsight.”
Officer Dollard expressed gratitude for the jury’s careful consideration and for the support she received throughout the process.
“This has been an extraordinarily difficult time,” Parham said. “Today’s verdict allows a dedicated public servant to move forward with her life and her reputation restored.”
Parham added that the case reflects the difficult realities faced by law enforcement officers across the country.
“Every day, officers are required to make life-and-death decisions in seconds, under dangerous and unpredictable conditions,” she said. “This verdict affirms that those decisions must be judged based on the reality of the moment — not from the safety of hindsight.”
Parham Law LLC thanks the jury for its service and the court for its careful attention to the law throughout the proceedings.
Veteran Law Enforcement Officer Cassandra Dollard Acquitted
