Posted on 01/09/2006 1:47:16 PM PST by Libloather
Embattled Greensboro Police Chief Resigns
10 minutes ago
Greensboro Chief of Police David Wray has announced his resignation.
In a letter dated Monday morning, Wray said events of the past several months created controversy and hurt his ability to lead the force.
Assistant Chief Tim Bellamy was named acting chief effective immediately, according to City Manager Mitchell Johnson.
Wray has dealt with allegations of a unit in his department targeting officers with investigations based on race. Johnson is reviewing a report concerning the accusations.
Scheduling of officers has also caused unrest in the department.
Johnson last month told Wray he could not hire, fire, transfer or promote officers without his permission. On Friday night, Wray was locked out of his office.
"Despite giving my best effort, I have not been successful in dealing with all of the issues which have come before me," Wray said. "I take responsibility for these failures."
Wray, who began working with the department in 1981, had been chief for two and a half years.
Wray said that "the city manager and some others have lost confidence and trust in my ability to lead. This is my great regret."
GREENSBORO - The city manager changed the locks to the office of embattled police Chief David A. Wray on Friday but emphasized in a statement that he "is still the police chief."
City Manager Mitchell Johnson said he expected the chief at work Monday but that Wray must get access to his office by going through him.
The move comes as Johnson reviews a report from the City Attorney's Office and a Raleigh consulting firm on allegations of internal racial profiling by a unit the rank-and-file dub the "secret police."
"We've been in the process for a while of reviewing allegations and concerns expressed about the police department," Johnson said. "We have secured the chief's files and office at this time as a part of that investigation process."
Wray could not be reached for comment Friday. Calls to his city pager and to his work line were not returned.
Johnson's report, commissioned by the city, was started over the summer to investigate reported personnel irregularities in the department.
Johnson last month stripped Wray of his ability to hire, fire, promote or transfer officers in the department without his permission.
The city brought in the outside firm for $140 an hour this fall. The consultants helped conduct interviews with rank-and-file officers, reviewed documents and administered lie detector tests.
The department's second in command and the captain who oversaw internal affairs both retired with almost no notice the week after Thanksgiving.
On the heels of those recent developments, the securing of Wray's personal office appears to indicate an action is near on the report's findings, which remain under wraps.
A senior aide to the manager, Patricia Boswell, said after releasing Johnson's impromptu statement to the press in front of the police department Friday night that she expected no more official statements until Monday.
Attorney Joe Williams, who represents several black officers who have accused Wray's administration of a pattern of discrimination, declined to comment on Wray's status.
Williams represents Lt. James Hinson, the high-profile black officer who last summer discovered that a tracking device had been planted under the bumper of his police cruiser. Wray acknowledged that the device had been placed there by the Special Intelligence Section.
Within days of the News & Record story, Wray called a press conference during which he alluded to a far-reaching criminal investigation. Although he never mentioned Hinson by name, he later advised that reporters "connect the dots." No criminal charges have been brought against Hinson, though he has been on paid suspension since June.
A spokesman for the Greensboro Police Officer's Association, which alleges other misuses of power by Wray, said he was satisfied with the process of the review.
"We are pleased that the city administration has taken these allegations, has investigated them and acted in the best interests of the public," attorney William Hill said. "It would lead one to believe that he's not coming back. As far as locks being changed? I've never heard of it before. And I've been practicing law in the area of law enforcement liability for over a decade."
Johnson took over as interim city manager Aug. 1, about two months after the stories regarding the secret police unit became public. He was named the new manager early this fall.
Mayor Keith Holliday said he learned of Johnson's decision to change the locks after 6 p.m. Holliday expressed support for how Johnson has handled the situation.
"(Johnson) has done a very good job under very trying circumstances," Holliday said late Friday afternoon. "I have great confidence in Mitch's ability to make a good decision."
City Council members Sandy Carmany and Florence Gatten hadn't heard about Friday's action from Johnson but said they were confident in his handling of the investigation so far.
The city manager has the sole authority to hire or fire department heads. He must inform City Council of any such removals or appointments at the next council meeting after such an action. The c ouncil meets again Tuesday.
Holliday said he expects "some sort of closure" in the next few days.
"This is not going to linger on," Holliday said. "We know there's been some lost confidence in the police department. That's being addressed."
The police chief and his special intelligence (sic) unit ought to have their *sses kicked, made to apologize, and personally made to pay all the people they targeted or discriminated against.
Are you aware of the whole story?
The previous police chief allowed the black members of the force to run rough shod over people's rights. Plus there were drug trafficing allegations. The cop that had his vehicle bugged has been considered a rouge cop for years.
This is nothing more than a power play by the black's in the department.
Mayor Holliday is a nit wit and Johnson is a political hack. Come to Greensboro any Thursday night and watch the local access channel where Holliday sits and grins while racist Skip Alston does his best Al Sharpton impression.
Sorry ... I guess I don't know the whole story. I figured if there was more to the story, it would have been posted above. Thanks for bringing an entirely different side to this story though.
I had no idea.
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