Replies

NandO from 1992 via CourtTV bb.

The News & Observer * February 1, 1992

**Police* probe a relief to city SBI will study call girl charge*

Author: JANE STANCILL; Staff writer

*DURHAM* -- Now that state and federal agents are looking into allegations of wrongdoing surrounding the *Durham* *Police* Department, everyone from City Hall to Main Street is breathing a sigh of relief that outside agencies are finally entering the case.

District Attorney Ronald L. Stephens has called the SBI into the investigation involving allegations that a *prostitution* ring operated out of the *police* department and the handling of an in-house probe of the charges. He's asked agents to look at possible obstruction of justice, intimidation of witnesses and even perjury involving the complex case.

"There needed to be someone totally independent to come in and in a professional manner review all of this and make some determination on substantiated facts as to whether things were done appropriately and legally," Stephens said.

*Police* Chief Trevor A. Hampton says he also has asked the SBI -- as well as the FBI -- to enter the case.

On Friday, City Council members said it was time outside investigators came onto the scene. "I think it will raise the comfort level of everyone involved," said member Sylvia S. Kerckhoff.

Others said the *police* department should never have been investigating itself in the first place.

"Hindsight is 20-20," said Mayor Harry E. Rodenhizer Jr. "We were not aware of the first two investigations. But I would have been in favor of an outside investigation from the start." An internal investigation was conducted over five weeks late last year by officers from the force's own organized crime division. That's when allegations of the call-girl operation and other sexual misconduct surfaced, but no criminal wrongdoing was uncovered.

The department's investigation focused on five employees, including Wiley Davis Jr., former career development manager, who resigned earlier this week amid allegations that he falsified his academic credentials to attain his city position.

But some have speculated the investigation may have been compromised from the very beginning. It started out in the department's own professional standards division and then was handed over to the vice officers.

Hampton has said the vice officers may have violated federal laws by making some procedural errors during the probe. But Capt. George B. Hare, who leads the vice unit, has staunchly defended his investigators.

And on Friday, he welcomed the outside agencies into the case. "It will get a fair review," he said. "I have a lot of confidence in SBI and any federal investigations. So far, the chief has been in full control of information presented to the City Council and the public. There are more details."

Meanwhile, officers on the street said morale has already started to rise with news of the pending investigations. During the past three weeks, some officers have said it was hard to concentrate on doing their jobs.

"This has been an explosive issue to everyone," Hare said. "Maybe with the SBI, we can get things back in perspective and get back to what we're supposed to do."

Beginning early next week, several agents will start reviewing documents and conducting interviews at the department.

"I hope it won't take long," said SBI director Charles J. Dunn Jr. "But you never know until you get into it."

Copyright 1992 by The News & Observer Pub. Co. Record Number: RNOB70363