The unfolding developments in the investigation of (now former) Police Chief David Wray have been emotionally draining for me personally as well as professionally in my role as a city council member. My husband retired from the Greensboro Police Department six years ago, serving at the same time as David for many years, so I felt I knew him well as part of the "police family." We also grew up in the same "neck of the woods" - southern Guilford County - and still know a lot of the same people there. When the questions and allegations about his administration began to surface, I expected that there were reasonable explanations for his actions and was not overly concerned, attributing complaints to "sour grapes" and the normal disgruntlement and second-guessing of whomever is in charge at the moment.
However, as the investigation proceeded and more and more evidence came to light from numerous sources, it became increasingly clear that there were indeed things wrong within the administration of the police department that just could not be ignored. While it may be difficult to conclusively prove "who knew what and when" or whether actions were deliberate or oversights, the ultimate responsibility has to be placed on the man in charge, David Wray. While I believe him to be a good person at heart, being "a good person" does not guarantee that one will always use good judgment and make the best choices.
Because of the information revealed to me, I must share my conclusion - with a very heavy heart- that Chief David Wray's resignation today was in the best interests of Greensboro, its citizens, and the morale of our hard-working police officers.
I offer my full support and sincere wishes for success to Interim Chief Tim Bellamy in hopes that he can initiate the healing process within the department and the community-at-large to make sure that we are delivering the best police services possible to all our citizens.
It's time to move forward!
Monday, January 09, 2006
A sad day
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11 comments:
when does Butch Simmons not get investigated for all of the wrong within the administration of the inspections department that just has been ignored. While it may be difficult to conclusively prove "who knew what and when" or whether actions were deliberate or oversights, the ultimate responsibility has to be placed on the man in charge, Butch Simmons.
Nobody was even written up for the south gate fiasco...they forgot to inspect it for over a year? Here is some proof...an e mail from Danny Nall
I talked to Clyde and he is sending you something shortly.
You are correct about the spot checks. We were in the process of reassignments and no one thought about the spot checks. It had been reassigned to Chris Jones and he was not informed to make the spot checks. I thought that Dave Amos had made some spot checks during that time.
They forgot to do the written legal agreement that was set up to be the after care of project 2400..there is plenty more.butch totally lied at the council meeting when I asked about the lengthy time it took to start making paper work for the saint james steps...but...nobody looked into that did they? ..since we are speaking of accountabiblity...why stop w the police?
Sandy, I appreciate that the council members have "certain information," but why doesn't the public? In the other corner, the County Commishes were eager to put fictitious evidence about the Tax Director into the newspaper (when there was no wrongdoing) but when there is? Doesn't the public deserve the entire story?
The council represents up; it doesn't mean they don't tell us. When will this information be shared? (Note: I'm sure there is a list of things wrong; I disagreed with locking a professional out of his office as 'bad for greensboro's reputation,' but when there is clear data, shouldn't it be shared without having to launch a press-investigation?)
In other words, when do get to know what we should know from the people who have the straight information?
Troublemaker,
If there are problems in the Inspections Dept. (or any other), I expect the city manager to deal with them. Council (and the public) does not know about most internal personnel actions that are taken, only those that reach a high profile such as the case of David Wray and limited examples in the past, so it's possible these issues have already been examined and addressed appropriately.
Sue,
It is the expressed desire of the city manager and to every member of city council to whom I have spoken to make as much of this information as is possible known to the public. There is a process in the state statutes that allows for this to happen with the city council voting and officially authorizing the manager to release personnel information. I fullly expect that vote and authorization to occur at tonight's council meeting.
I do not know the details surrounding Chief Wray’s departure, but it became very obvious to me that Chief Wray would be leaving as the drama associated with being “locked out of his office” played all weekend in the media and probably on the wire services as well.
So Mitch Johnson our new City Manger flexes his power in the limelight of the television cameras over the weekend.
Was all this drama necessary?
Now you don’t have to have a great deal of special training to sit down with someone and say, “I have lost confidence in your ability to lead, I need your resignation” Why Mitch Johnson chose the drama of the office lockout and all the television publicity and grandstanding was certainly not the best course of action for our City. After all we are already the home of Project Homestead, St James II, the Nazi Klan shootings, and now we can add “Lock the Police Chief out of his Office”
I can hardly believe Mayor Holiday knew how this was going to go down before hand.
What is more troubling to me is the thinking that led Mitch Johnson to handle this situation in the manner that he did.
The taxpayers of Greensboro are entitled to know the details of what lead us to this position. We are also entitled to know why the leader of this city Mitch Johnson chose the heavy-handed course of action that he took so that we can make our decision on his performance.
Does anyone out there agree with the manner in which this was handled?
Gary,
I have noted in this blog and several others that Mitch Johnson DID NOT CHOSE to release the information about the locked office - someone unknown leaked that information and Mitch had to deal with the firestorm of inaccurate information that began with that unauthorized release of information.
Mitch DID sit down and have a discussion with Chief Wray prior to taking his drastic action and was handling the situation in a painstakingly professional manner. Council members were aware he was working with the advice of the city attorney to make sure everything was done "by the book" to protect everyone's rights in this process.
Unfortunately the leak and ensuing media frenzy led to the publicly humiliating scenario that played out over the last couple of days - you can thank that "leak" and the media for that unfortunate spectacle. Had that not occurred, this whole action most certainly would have been conducted in the controlled, professional manner we all expect.
Chief Wray had no choice but to resign when he was locked out of his own office. I am getting my "Whoa up here!" signal again in this matter, so am waiting for a report from the city council which Ms. Carmany suggests will be forthcoming. The police officers were upset with the shift work. Well, all workers in all 24 hour operational industries are not fond of shift work; just ask hospital workers who are most often subjected to it. Chief Wray had a good idea in implementing the program however as a training program to familiarize all the officers with the problems faced by their colleagues at different times of the day and in different neighborhoods. Internal Investigation is especially important and necessary within a police force because the criminal's best tool is a corrupt policeman. Studies have shown that often police officers embedded in a particular community for long periods are more pressured to give in to the temptation. Perhaps Chief Wray having come up thru the ranks knew something but needed more definitive proof that would hold up in court. I am also concerned with the racial card being used so often when a member of a minority group is placed under scrutiny. It just plain can't always be racism. And yet time and again when a minority yells racism officialdom seems to jump and run. (Ex: the Muslim lady in Wal-Marts and our mayor's resonse.Later of course video tapes revealed the lady to have been the aggressor causing her own injuries and attacking Wal-Mart employees. She prudently left the country before she could be charged with assault if you recall. And, of course our own Mr. Alston who no one seems willing to dare to question on any of his dealings!) I still have this "uneasy" feeling so will await eagerly your report Ms. Carmany. Brebda Bowers
I'm looking forward to the release of the findings in the report as well in hopes that the correct information will put an end to the endless erroneous speculation that is occuring because the facts are not at present publicly available.
News
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Duties change for special Greensboro police unit
By Eric J.S. Townsend
Staff Writer
GREENSBORO — A covert “secret police” unit can no longer conduct criminal investigations in the Greensboro Police Department.
Acting police Chief Tim Bellamy, in his first day in the position, sent a memo to the force on Monday announcing the reorganized Special Intelligence Section. The sweeping change undoes the way in which the city’s former police chief used the unit.
Chief David Wray resigned Monday amid controversy over Special Intelligence and allegations that it targeted black officers, among other things. Irregularities in personnel decisions have also been alleged by officers.
Under new orders, the small unit — dubbed the “secret police” by rank and file — now answers to the commander who oversees criminal detectives.
Criminal accusations against officers are to be handled by those detectives and all administrative charges by internal affairs.
Bellamy declined to comment Tuesday. He said the city legal office instructed him to remain quiet on the matter.
Special Intelligence will continue to act in its traditional role of following gang and hate group activities, and providing security to city leaders. But it now has a clear chain of command that its critics within the department argued it needed.
Contact Eric J.S. Townsend at etownsend@news-record.com or 373-7008.
MORE ONLINE
Read acting police Chief Tim Bellamy's memo here. STORIES:
Click here to read story "Greensboro police chief quits with 'great regret'"
Click here to read story "Wray's departure may put programs in jeapordy"
Click here to read story "Many saw Wray’s decision coming"
Click here to read story "Leaders, public seek trust-building chief"
BACKGROUND:
Read David Wray's announcement he's resigning here.
Read City Manager Mitchell Johnson's statement here.
Read more about acting Chief Tim Bellamy here.
Click here to see a timeline regarding David Wray's career.
We've had to postpone our plans to allow readers to append comments to individual articles until we can put additional safeguards in place, and we apologize for the delay. Until we are able to present that feature to you, please visit our existing reader forums feature to discuss this or any article.
http://news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060110/NEWSREC0101/60110028
Brenda Bowers: The more you write, the more you reveal about yourself. I wonder if you know just how much you've told us through your comments here and elsewhere.
Sandy: I appreciate your professionalism, as always.
I agree that it is time to move forward. This has been an unfortunate situation and as citizen I am pleased with the way Mitch Johnson has addressed this matter.
Thank you Ms. Carmany for serving on council and doing a great job.
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