Two of South Carolina's top law enforcement officials have submitted their resignations amid criticism of their handling of a state trooper who used a racial epithet during a traffic stop four years ago.

The trooper was reprimanded and suspended. Governor Mark Sanford says the trooper should have been fired.

The Legislative Black Caucus obtained dash cam video of the incident. Audio on the tape captured an officer using a racial slur against an
African-American and threatening to kill him.

The trooper, off camera but whose voice is recorded, is later heard bringing the man back to his patrol car. The man asks the trooper, "Why are you beating me?" -- the trooper replies that he was, quote, "resisting arrest."

Representative Leon Howard of the Legislative Black Caucus brought the tape to Governor Sanford, along with another one showing a different trooper handcuffing an African-American woman to the front a patrol cruiser in October 2007, and leaving her there for several minutes.

Howard says the troopers were let off the hook in both cases.

"And they gave the troopers 12 hours, they gave each one 12 hours punishment, and they feel that's appropriate, then certainly I think the governor made the right decision not to have someone at the leadership position with that type of mentality," said Howard.

James Schweitzer, who's the highest ranking officer in the Department of Public Safety will not be renominated. Schweitzer says he's disappointed to leave the agency under what he feels is politics at its worst. He'll continue as director until the next one is appointed.

Highway Patrol Commander Russell Roark will retire on May 1.