Some bits of news regarding the GPD fiasco:
1. Attorney Ken Free is representing the 40 officers suing the city of Greensboro in connection with the EEOC complaint. The Rhino Times reports that Free is being sued over an unrelated matter involving his alleged actions in a real estate deal. Ben has posted the actual papers filed.
2. The News and Record reports this morning that an officer named "B.L. James" is being promoted to captain. Recall that someone named Brian James was one of the featured officers in the Bledsoe series; and is one of the parties to the lawsuit Free has brought against the city.
Brian James: It appears that the corrupt and incompetent get well-rewarded in GPD these days.
Posted by: Stormy | February 27, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Yes, I noticed that little tidbit in the N&R. I wonder why they used initials rather than names? Could it be so as not to call undo notice to the fact the B.L. James Nd Brian James are one and the same?
Greensboro government smells to high heaven! BB
Posted by: Brenda Bowers | February 27, 2009 at 01:51 PM
Brenda, I believe that is common practice to law enforcement to have only initials when being referred to formally. Don't officers badges only contain initials, not first names? I don't think that anyone who has followed this story are fooled by B.L. James, rather than Brain James.
Posted by: Stormy | February 27, 2009 at 02:33 PM
Stormy and Brenda, I am not making an issue over the initials.
But here is one thing I found very interesting about Captain James' promotion. The progression seems to be that one sues the city, and then is rewarded by being promoted. Remember that the GPD now has a newfangled promotion process that is supposed to be spiffy and improved.
I wonder how often this type of thing happens in the private sector. Imagine an employee suing their private employer, and then being granted a promotion.
I have to admit that if one of my employees sued me, I would hesitate before promoting them. It would not make a whole lot of sense to me. But then again, maybe that's just me.:)
Posted by: Joe Guarino | February 27, 2009 at 06:35 PM
Harder to imagine is a City Manager that fires the Chief of Police claiming his department discriminated against black officers. Then when those officers sue based on said discrimination, denying in Court pleadings that any discrimination existed at all.
And he still has a job despite the lawsuits that he created.
Posted by: Spag | February 27, 2009 at 08:13 PM
Good point, Sam. And that raises another issue. It may explain why James got promoted.
If the party line now, officially, is that there was no discrimination that took place, then I suppose we cannot hold it against a city employee who sues the city for discrimination; and that employee should be eligible for promotions. Makes sense, right? :)
Posted by: Joe Guarino | February 27, 2009 at 08:30 PM
"... if one of my employees sued me, I would hesitate before promoting them ..."
As would any competent employer, Dr. Joe. The fact is that OUR (the public) employee (ie BL James) DID sue his employer (us) and is being promoted ... on OUR nickel! Yet, we tend to develop "memory constipation" when we continually elect those that abuse us. We, as citizens, really need to take ownership of our city AND its politics.
Posted by: Touch | February 27, 2009 at 09:13 PM
You are right, Touch. We are, indeed the ones being sued.
And I quoted Hammer in another post today when he said that this is a battle for the soul of Greensboro. And in many ways, it is.
Posted by: Joe Guarino | February 27, 2009 at 09:45 PM