Scott Sanders and Tom Fox Cleared by GPD: Contrast with the AJ Blake/ City of Greensboro Mess

I think many observers by this time have begun to grasp the magnitude of the mess created by City Manager Bob Morgan's decision to reinstate AJ Blake to the GPD.

Earlier this week, we heard about the fact that the US Department of Justice was not going to be suing the City of Greensboro over the GPD fiasco.  That was prominently reported and discussed in various local blogs.

One important piece of information has not been reported, however.  Recall that Tom Fox and Scott Sanders had been reinstated to their jobs after the conclusion of Sanders' trial.  But the internal investigation against them within the GPD was still open after a period of three long years.

I have heard from several sources I consider to be reliable that both Fox and Sanders have been essentially cleared within the GPD with respect to the allegations made against them in the course of the GPD fiasco.  In fact, I am told about a statement that one key Internal Affairs officer made.  That person said there was never even any probable cause for the case against them.

And this week, John Hammer reported on Sanders having been cleared internally within the GPD.  But he pointed out that the city still has not made the situation right:

It may seem odd, but even after Sanders was found not guilty in court and the charges were dismissed by the state, he was investigated by the Greensboro Police Department for those same allegations. The standards of proof are lower in an internal investigation and, unlike in court, an officer can be forced to testify against himself. But the serious allegations were unfounded and Police Chief Tim Bellamy, who has to approve the findings, has reportedly signed off on all but one minor allegation that is still under investigation. The most serious allegations against Sanders that have been upheld are that he used profanity during an interrogation and failed to fill out a report.

Sanders has been found not guilty in court and by the Police Department, but the City Council is punishing him by refusing to pay his attorneys' fees.

Attorneys familiar with the case say it is likely that Sanders and the other police officers who were never charged with anything will prevail in court when they sue for attorneys' fees. Then the city will have to pay, not just the original attorneys' fees, but the fees for the suit to sue for the fees. It is time for those who supported Mitch Johnson's witch hunt to give up and admit they were wrong.

It has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Justice and the Greensboro Police Department, and the allegations made against Wray and his staff are unfounded. Certainly if what Mitch Johnson said were true, one of these investigations would have turned up sufficient evidence of wrongdoing to take action, but they have not. 

What does this have to do with the case of AJ Blake?

Scott Sanders and Tom Fox were put through hell for a period of nearly four years, and there was no reason for it.  They were cleared and reinstated.  They are still having to fight to get their legal expenses paid.

AJ Blake got a speedy trial, was initially convicted, and then was subsequently acquitted-- but primarily because the girlfriend he was alleged to have battered while he was under the influence testified on his behalf.  He was acquitted even though there had been witnesses to the incident.  He had been recommended for termination by a black police chief; and there is no indication that this recommendation had been changed.  In the meantime, he has alleged racism against the department's gang unit, and consorted with a known gang leader who happens to be running for City Council. 

His situation is much different than the case of Sanders and Fox for various reasons-- and arguably much, much worse.  The element of racial targeting has essentially been removed from the consideration of Blake's case, because a black police chief and a significantly black power structure within the GPD recommended that he be fired.  Yet, he was reinstated by City Manager Morgan.

Greensboro police officers have every reason to be concerned about being required to serve alongside this gentleman, when they have little way to know what Blake's relationship is with the city's gang culture.

Sam Hieb had some important comments over at Piedmont Publius:

I don’t think it’s being overly cynical to say that the reinstatement of Greensboro police officer A.J. Blake has a really, really bad smell...

The announcement that interim City Manager Bob Morgan reinstated Blake was the classic Friday afternoon news dump designed to minimize reaction from citizens anticipating the weekend. We also know that Morgan is shortly making way for new City Manager Rashad Young, so he won’t have to take the political heat as the city’s head honcho. Kind of a small-time presidential pardon, if you will.

Something else that’s very interesting: I could swear I saw a quote from Blake in yesterday’s N&R online version saying he wouldn’t be rejoining the gang unit because he probably would face more harassment from fellow officers than the gangs themselves. An interesting perspective from a police officer who’s lucky to have a job, I thought to myself.

I am concerned as to whether there may have been some political maneuvering that influenced Morgan's decision to reinstate Blake.  I have no solid information to prove that.  But his decision makes little sense otherwise. 

The City Council needs to call Morgan out on the carpet, and make him explain.  They need to ask him specifically what offense justified demoting Blake.  They need to find out, in view of his wild racial allegations against the gang unit, and his consorting with a gang leader and convicted felon, how he remains qualified to be a Greensboro police officer.  They need to find out what police department policies, procedures and directives Blake violated with the various behaviors he displayed.  And they need to do whatever they can to reverse Morgan's decision.  Greensboro is being made a laughing stock.

Furthermore, Morgan needs to disclose all communications he has had regarding this matter-- verbal and written.

As I noted in a post last night, City Council candidates need to overcome their reticence, and discuss this matter openly.  This is a legitimate campaign issue, because the primary function of local government is to maintain civic order.  We need to insist upon the best police department we can possibly have.

Earlier this week, the News and Record reported on the progress of the city and the GPD in implementing the Buracker Report recommendations.  We know that some recommendations have been heeded, and some have not been.  But it is impossible to know from the reporting to what extent the department's operational effectiveness in fighting crime has been enhanced.

And yet, there are still concerns.  We have seen recently yet another crime wave through New Irving Park.  The city continues to demonstrate a relatively soft, reactive approach to fighting crime; and a reluctance to use the proactive measures that have been so successful in other cities.

We are still tweaking the work shifts of police officers, and making decisions based on identity politics.  And public safety continues to be secondary. 

I have one other point.  There is one other body that could potentially review this case.  The North Carolina Training and Standards Division, within the North Carolina Department of Justice, apparently has jurisdiction over matters such as these.  And I am told that it is not necessarily bound by the fact that someone like Blake has been acquitted in court.  I do not know whether this particular division has been asked to review Blake's situation as of yet.   

In the meantime, it is highly appropriate for the present City Council, and all of the candidates running, to demand more of our City Manager and our police department.

 

Comments

[Jonas]

Amen.

[Brenda Bowers]

From what I have been able to tell this is the same old campaign style always used in this lovely and lovingly friendly southern city: if you can't say something nice then don't say anything at all. People run for office and then refuse to challenge their opponent so the same people who have name recognition continue to get voted in office.

The one exception seems to be Bill Knight, but he can't pin Yvonne Johnson downw because she knows he will slaughter her on all issues.

[Brandon Burgess]

"There is one other body that could potential review this case..."

--The man was acquitted after his girlfriend saved his butt. Cornell, the gang leader Blake is working against his colleagues with, has accused Blake of filing a false police report. Blake has accused a city councilman of bribery. This guy has no place in our police department. Blake was/is suing the city. Where is our chief in all of this? Robbie Perkins gave Chief Bellamy rave reviews at the Unity Forum, for what? He shows no leadership or direction. It's like Bellamy feels he doesn't answer to the citizens he serves.

[Joe Guarino]

I just received the following e-mail from someone who saw the N&R's original version of its article yesterday:

"I printed that article out last night. This was the last sentence in the
piece:
"It's obvious I can't work with (the gang squad),' Blake said. 'The
threats would be coming more from them than the criminals.'
That sentence is now missing."

[Joe Guarino]

Brenda, I agree with your appraisal of the nature of campaigning here in Greensboro. It is hoped that this particular affair will change that.

Brandon, I am told that, in this case, the police chief appealed to the city manager NOT to reinstate Blake. While I am not a big fan of this particular police chief, I have no reason to believe he is complicit in this particular action taken by Bob Morgan. Perhaps information will come out later that proves otherwise, but the information available to me suggests the police department opposed this.

[Brandon Burgess]

Then I feel Bellamy should take it upon himself to let the people of Greensboro know how he feels and why. It would settle the racial aspect of this mess once and for all.

I also agree that the city council should take a stand on this issue. I wonder what the outcome would be if the chief answered to the council rather than the city manager.

[Stormy]

As we have known for several years, the News-Record is a big part of the problem in this story in Greensboro. They are part of the Big Money/Big Power/Big Influence of Greensboro.

[bubba]

And yet JR's standard "who, us?" reply is still operative, despite all the evidence that points right to them.