Drastic Turnaround at the GPD

All of a sudden, we are seeing black officers getting fired at the Greensboro Police Department.  A number of them.

The department had been laboring under the weight of an employee population excessively beset by attitudes of entitlement and aggrievement.  It had been going on for years.

Then we see the leadership of Tim Bellamy come to a close, and an interim replace him.  Much of the action has taken place during the brief period of leadership of the interim chief.  We also have a new assistant city manager leaving an imprint, presumably with the blessing of a relatively new city manager.  Suddenly, we are seeing what appears to be an effort to restore discipline and honor within the department.

Of course, there is a reaction.  The Greensboro Pulpit Forum remains at work, coordinating the "Justice Summer" activities that tend to characterize the department as corrupt because of its newfound disciplinary zeal.  There was a significant event at a large black church yesterday.  The News and Record is giving this side increasingly sympathetic coverage.

We now learn that dozens of ministers are signing on to the effort to obtain a federal Department of Justice investigation.  Included among these are black ministers and local Episcopal clergy.  The high-profile involvement of the Episcopal priests is a bit surprising given the fact that they do not know the whole story.  They are putting their credibility on the line, big time.  Protecting these black police officers from accountability might turn out to be the wrong position to take.

I hope Mr. Young and Mr. Speedling know what they are doing, and that they are fully prepared to defend the personnel decisions being made. 

One of the interesting things about the recent round of firings is that the stars of the Bledsoe series-- Hinson, James, Fulmore, etc.-- are left relatively unscathed.

I do not know the facts of the most recent cases in which officers are being recommended for termination.  But if these personnel actions are justified, then they potentially represent an important step in reestablishing discipline and restoring the department. 

Comments

[Brandon Burgess]

Joe, I am pleased that Rashad Young is not shying away from his job because of a fear of controversy. He is attacking these problems head on. I think that kind of leadership is important with regard to the duties that Speedling and Crotts have been tasked with. This is the kind of leadership Greensboro has needed for a long time.

I think it is important that we support our city manager and his efforts; just as important as it was to oppose the last one. Young is catching a lot of criticism for making some important decisions and those who support him need to stand with him.

[Bubba]

"But if these personnel actions are justified, then they potentially represent an important step in reestablishing discipline and restoring the department."

The "Intolerable Racism" crowd at a certain local institute of higher education is gearing up to support the "Justice Summer" comedy revue through some academic course work requirements.

I'll have more to say about this as further information becomes available.

[jaycee]

Some poor officers were cut loose.
It is only incidental that they were black.
Please, please fire the bad apples regardless of the race-baiters; it's the only way to restore integrity and dignity to GPD.

[Joe Guarino]

Brandon, you make some very good points. I have hoped that Young is not penalizing these men while allowing other worse situations to persist. But I do not doubt that he has justification for taking action against these officers. Employers-- especially in the public sector, especially with the kind of machine government we have-- tend not to take the firing of black employees casually.

Bubba, one of the interesting things is that the Melderec con Simkins crowd is allowing all this discipline to take place. They still have a majority on the city council, but Robbie Perkins has apparently refrained from stopping what the GPD is doing. Are they truly supportive of what Young is doing, or is Perkins merely holding tight until the election next year? Would Young do this without the support of that crowd?

Jaycee, a day of reckoning has been needed to turn around the department. If this is the beginning of that process, then we might have something to celebrate.

[cheripickr]

If I understand Jaycee correctly, I agree. Joe, you would turn far fewer people off if you would identify people you feel inadequate for public service by their shortcomings rather than their race. I extend to you the benefit of the doubt that your approval of these firings is based not on the color of their skin but for your perception of poor job performance, but that's sure as hell the way it comes across.

[Joe Guarino]

My approval is tentative, Cheri, because I don't know the details.

But we need to be reminded of the history-- a department that has been deep in controversy for years, in part, because certain black officers suspected of engaging in bad behavior were protected from being disciplined; and because certain black officers made accusations of discrimination when they were being investigated and/or disciplined, and got themselves off the hook.

Of course, I want to see discipline applied equally regardless of race, and hope there will be lesser need for disciplinary actions in the future. In fact, if the city were to intentionally apply disparate treatment, there would be a heap of trouble.

[HansFree]

Joe,

The N&R sympathetic to the gang of preachers ? No stuff !! What a waste of newsprint

Where are the Revs Jesse and Al and their deck of cards ?

Lorraine has gone but her doppelganger has come along in the form of Jeri Rowe.

Maybe the poor boy is just following orders. No excuse !!

[Joe Guarino]

Hans, it is not just Jeri Rowe. Others are beginning to join the party.

They had taken a break for a time; but with the recent terminations, they are getting fired up once again.

[Brandon Burgess]

For the record, I don't believe that the work of Young, Crotts and Speedling is racially motivated nor should it be.

The fact that those being fired are claiming racial discrimination doesn't mean that is what is going on here.

I don't know if anyone has been keeping up with the Yes! Weekly Blog but Jordan Green has made available a number of letters to Young, authored by Cherry.

[Joseph Guarino]

I tend to agree with your first two statements, Brandon. The question is whether an opening has been left for the black officers to successfully claim disparate treatment. And yes, I have been keeping up with the Yes Weekly blog for the most part.

It is absolutely critical for discipline to be restored, and for the department to be transformed back to a quasi-military organization.

[Stormy]

What are the odds that these officers are just pawns being cut loose to make a show of zero tolerance; while the real offenders (Hinson, James, Fulmore, etc.) skate? It could be an antidote of sorts. Cut low-level officers, who likely are poor performers, whose terminations can be fully justified and defended. Cutting Hinson, James, Fulmore, etc. would cause major problems, but these low-level officers are low-hanging fruit to make a show of zero tolerance, and taking the focus away from the old problem officers? Just asking.

[Joe Guarino]

Stormy, the same thought occurred to me; and I don't know if that is what is happening. I hope not.

City officials doubtless are familiar with the risks associated with terminating minority officers without ample justification.

[Brenda Bowers]

I was concerned about the new City Manager and wondered if we hadn't just gotten another Mitch. However I have been heartened by his performance at City Council meetings; he is respectful and helpful to the City Council members but not at all intimidated by them. Nor does he seem to practice "double-talk" as much as we have come to expect. I am sure he knows well what he is doing with these firings and he knew there would be consiquences.

Have been thinking of the really bad guys, Hinson, Fulmore and James among others and have decided that fioring them for past deeds would just open up a can of worms the city has already hashed over. I believe these clowns are on the wanted list and the City Manager is just waiting fore a transgression. At that point all the past can be brought up to re-enforce the reason for firing if necessary.

I agree with Bubba that we need to let the City Manager know we are behind him. To often we attack but forget to praise. BB

[Joe Guarino]

Brenda, my thought has been that the city once had the opportunities to deal with the Hinson/James/Fulmore situations-- but when those opportunities arose, they were blown for reasons we have all come to understand.

[Harold]

Just possibly the incoming P-Chief "encouraged" the administration to clear the deck as much as possible before he comes on board.

I'll say I've been pretty impressed with this new CM. If he can stay one step ahead of the politics, he'll work out fine. So far, good choice by the City Council to hire this guy.

[Joe Guarino]

Harold, my belief is that the city manager must believe that the city council will back him up on this issue. And as noted previously, we still have a Melderec con Simkins majority.

[Mike J Baron]

I worked inside city hall five years. The City of Greensboro is so uptight about supervising black employees that it often doesn't. I'm guessing that's the problem inside the GPD -that certain individuals are not supervised for fear of discrimination complaints and lawsuits being filed. That results is a protected class that effects city services. Don't call me a racist for reporting my observation that supervision is unequally applied in Greensboro city government.

[Doc Alexander]

If Cardes Brown, Nelson Johnson and the rest of the community activists (read: race hucksters) had problems with Tim Bellamy (a black man), they will have a field day with Mr. Charlie, the new guy. The over and under is 90 days until
A) the first complaint lodged against Chief Miller by a disgruntled black cop
B) the first press conference staged by the Summer Justice/Intolerable Racism/Hate Whitey crowd
C) the first inflammatory article penned by Jeri Rowe or one of the other half-wits that have signed on to do John Robinson's bidding at the worst newspaper in America.

[Joe Guarino]

Mike, I agree.

Doc, I am afraid Ken Miller is going to have a very rough time if he truly wants to do the right thing. The big question is whether the Melderec con Simkins majority is going to back him up in the long run.