Rookie Officer, 62, Fired From Winston-Salem Police Force McCauly Scored High On Exams
POSTED: 10:55 AM EST January 15, 2004
UPDATED: 11:10 AM EST January 15, 2004
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- A 62-year-old rookie police officer in Winston-Salem, whose hiring triggered debate over race and age, is no longer on the force.
Reginald McCauley, who is black, was fired in December after five months on the job. He was one of 26 officers to graduate from basic law-enforcement training on July 25.
When he graduated, McCauley had not achieved the department's required minimum score on firearms training, but was to receive additional training.
City Councilor Vernon Robinson accused Police Chief Linda Davis of lowering training standards for new recruits to permit black recruits to graduate even if they have failing test scores.
Davis said McCauley scored high on exams and met all state standards for a police officer, including firearms training. But she said he failed to meet the Winston-Salem department's firearm standards, which are stricter than the state standards.
McCauley isn't commenting on his firing.