Hagan's Nomination of Former GPD Officer Al Stewart, Part 2

Yesterday, I discussed how Kay Hagan had nominated former GPD officer Al Stewart to be U.S. Marshal.

I am excerpting heavily from part 77 of the Bledsoe series to provide more information:

The RMA report continues with more claims from officers about (Scott) Sanders.

"In the summer of 2004, another significant event occurred that speaks to the issue of Sanders' lack of supervision and investigative tactics. The Assistant District Supervisor of the State Bureau of Investigation for the Greensboro area, James Bowman, became so concerned about the investigative actions of Sanders, as well as the lack of GPD supervision of Sanders, that he shared these concerns with retired GPD Captain Al Stewart. Stewart was working at the time as an investigator for the District Attorney's Office."

Wray knew and respected Bowman and doubted that this was true. He knew that Bowman and Stewart, who retired as commander of Vice and Narcotics on the day Wray became chief, were long-time associates and are both white. It was more likely, Wray thought, that Stewart, who didn't like Sanders, had complained to Bowman. The SBI is not supposed to involve itself in internal investigations in other law enforcement agencies unless requested to do so. It also had no business becoming involved in the internal politics of the Police Department. Yet SBI Director Robin Pendergraft allowed Bowman and his boss, Frank Brown, to be interviewed by Mitch Johnson and former City Attorney Linda Miles. Johnson claimed that Bowman and Brown came to him, but the Attorney General's Office said the opposite was true.

If Bowman were deeply concerned about Sanders' investigative tactics and lack of supervision, Wray said, he should have brought that to his attention, and he didn't.

The RMA report notes that Al Stewart had supervised Sanders and Brian Bissett, who is white, and "was aware of some previous issues involving the possible veracity of Sanders and the motives of Bissett regarding J. Fulmore."

"What is that doing in this report?" Wray asked. "Neither one of those guys that I know of was charged administratively with anything. Both were in good standing."

The truthfulness of officers can threaten court cases, Wray said, and if Stewart had an issue with the truthfulness of anybody under his command, he should have acted on it.

Apparently, Stewart didn't do that, Wray said.

The report continues: "Stewart stated that both Sanders and Bissett openly expressed their 'hatred for J. Fulmore' often accusing him of being corrupt with nothing to substantiate such claims. Stewart stated that in 2002 when Sanders was transferred from his supervision to the Special Intelligence Section he contacted the Captain of that section and told him that Sanders was a 'loose cannon' and that he 'couldn't be trusted' and warning him to stay on top of him [Sanders]. While commanding the Vice and Narcotics section, Stewart stated that he had tried, unsuccessfully, to have Bissett transferred for 'insubordination' and he counseled with him several times about his 'attitude regarding Fulmore.'" Sanders was transferred to Special Intelligence in January 2001, not in 2002, as Stewart supposedly told RMA.

Wray heard a different tale about the transfer of Sanders from Vice and Narcotics to Special Intelligence. One of two commanders involved told him they had arranged the transfer because they thought Sanders was a good detective who wasn't receiving fair treatment due to Stewart's strong dislike for him, Wray said. Mike Toomes, now retired, said that Stewart also strongly disliked Bissett, who was a federal drug task force officer. But Toomes said he considered Bissett to be an asset to the unit and gave him high evaluations.

In July 2004, nearly a year after Stewart's retirement, the report says that he went to see Wray to share his concerns about Sanders.

"Stewart stated that he told Wray of the specifics discussed above and that he told Wray that 'if he didn't know about these issues that he was stupid, and if he knew and didn't do anything to stop it he was ashamed of him.'"

"Al gave me nothing but an informed opinion that he didn't like Sanders," Wray recalled of the meeting. "He didn't give me examples of bad stuff he had done. And this quote where Al says either you're stupid if you don't recognize it, or I'm ashamed of you if you do, Al Stewart never said that to me."

Stewart's visit took place only a few weeks after Julius Fulmore had fallen under investigation again, this time by Vice and Narcotics and IA. Vice and Narcotics officers discovered that Fulmore had rented a motel room adjoining a room occupied by a prostitute who was a crack cocaine user. The prostitute told detectives that Fulmore had brought her cocaine and she'd had sex with him. Fulmore denied that, but gave conflicting accounts. He acknowledged renting the room to have sex with a young woman of his acquaintance and said he later allowed a friend with a history of drug violations to spend the night in the room.

The report says that Stewart told Wray that if there were a hearing for Fulmore, he would testify on Fulmore's behalf. Wray said that Stewart made clear his strong support of Fulmore. No criminal charges were brought against Fulmore and only a minor administrative infraction was sustained against him, even though the prostitute passed a polygraph test and Fulmore showed deception on his.

Comments

[L.M.James]

I have worked with and for Al Stewart for over thirty years from recruit school to retirement. I have always found him to be a man of unquestionable professional integrity. I admittedly have no direct knowlege of any of the allegations referred to in part 77 of Bledsoe's "Cops In Black and White". While no shrinking violet in voicing his opinion, Al's professional opinions have been based in fact. Please don't attempt to tarnish the reputation of an individual who has served both the city of Greensboro and also his country with distinction for many years.

[Joe Guarino]

Mr. James, there is no attempt here to tarnish a reputation. This is a matter of public interest because our United States Senator has made a nomination; and it is entirely appropriate to examine the content of material that has been reported previously in the media. We are not creating anything new here, or reporting new information.

There were a number of justifications given for forcing David Wray out of office, and for subjecting his subordinates to all they were forced to endure. One of those justifications was the input of Al Stewart.

It was reported that Stewart was taking up the cause of Julius Fulmore. Stewart's input-- if we are to believe the RMA report, the overall sequence of events, and Bledsoe's reporting-- had the effect of undermining Wray's leadership. His stated concerns were cited by those who claimed action had to be taken against Wray and his men.

That is a part of the public record; and it is relevant to Kay Hagan's nomination of Stewart. We need to be concerned about that.