The shooting death of a Florence Regional Airport police officer a month ago continues to drive calls for state lawmakers to close a loophole that puts officers and the public at risk.

Records provided by the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy show Officer Jackson Winkeler wasn't certified. He died eight days before he was scheduled to start his final, eight-week basic law enforcement course.

State law allows agencies to put uncertified officers to work for up to a year while they wait for a spot at the academy. Under the exemption, a prospective officer has to complete an approved firearms qualification program and notify the academy. While on the wait list, they're free to work as any certified officer would. They can patrol neighborhoods. They can carry guns. They can makehe and other officials have come up with a solution that's dropped academy wait times significantly.

Line of duty

Little is known about the investigation into Winkeler's death.

The State Law Enforcement Division, which is leading the case, has released arrest affidavits, including limited details about what occurred. A post on the Officer Down Memorial Page contained a few more details.

Around 6 a.m. on Jan. 5, Winkeler tried to stop a white, Chrysler 200 that was driving on Gilbert Avenue near the airport's terminal. At some point during the stop, the driver, James Edward Bell, 37, opened fire.

Winkeler's body was found on the ground outside his patrol car. More than 30 shell casings littered the scene.

A 9mm handgun that did not belong to the slain officer was found nearby. The Chrysler