A Greensboro police captain responsible for filing multiple grievances who is on administrative duty status pending a fit-for-duty evaluation has received a Level I job performance rating, after being rated a Level IV, which is the next to highest level, in the previous three quarters.
Cherry’s annual evaluation was also a Level I. Both the 4th quarter and annual evaluations were served on July 9.
Assistant Chief Dwight Crotts wrote in Capt. Charles Cherry’s 4th quarter appraisal that “during this evaluation period Captain Cherry has produced or helped produce numerous documents in his own name and for subordinate employees, including at least one not under his command.”
In an e-mail last month to officers in the Eastern Division patrol command, whom Cherry supervised up until the time of his administrative duty reassignment, the police captain cited his fit-for-duty recommendation: “During the past two months, Captain CE Cherry has submitted and/or written seven grievances. He has also submitted and/or authored additional responses to the responses he has received. The manner in which the documents are constructed, his inability to accept reasonable responses, and his physical reactions in front of subordinate employees (sworn and non-sworn) during this time period gave rise to concerns for his emotional stability.”
Assistant City Manager Michael Speedling confirmed earlier this month that a statement in one of Cherry’s grievances referencing remarks by Chief Tim Bellamy during a command review and the NAACP was being investigated by the professional standards division for truthfulness.
Speedling declined to comment on whether the investigation into the truthfulness of Cherry's statements had been completed. He also said that fit-for-duty evaluations are rare, but in general when allegations come in they will be investigated.
Crotts' July 9 evaluation goes on to say that “Captain Cherry’s action have been a significant disruption, not only for the police department, but the city as well. Furthermore, he has demonstrated personal behavior in the presence of both sworn and non-sworn subordinate personnel that has caused them discomfort and concern resulting in administrative investigations. This is a complete failure in leadership and judgment.”
Speedling declined to comment on what false statements Cherry might have made or what personal behavior might have caused discomfort and concern among his colleagues, adding that there's no requirement that evaluations include those specifics.
"To each evaluator, there’s a certain leeway as to much information they’ll put on that form," Speedling said. :Some would go to great detail and some would not."
An outgoing message at Crotts’ work phone number indicated he will be out of the office until July 19. Earlier this month, City Manager Rashad Young appointed Crotts to serve as interim chief after Bellamy puts in his final day on July 31 and before a new chief is hired.
Reached by YES! Weekly yesterday, Cherry said, “I’m not in a position to comment on the evaluation that you obtained from an anonymous source. However, the city has an appeals process in place. I hope it will be fair to me.”
The overall favorable reviews of Cherry’s performance in the early part of this year stand in striking contrast to the wholly negative language in the evaluation of his work in May and June.
The annual evaluation notes that retiring Assistant Chief Gary Hastings rated Cherry a Level IV on Jan. 13.
“As part of the basis for that evaluation, it was listed that Captain Cherry worked flexible hours, weekends, interacted well with communities being served by the Eastern Patrol Division, demonstrated a genuine concern for division members,” the annual evaluation states.
“During the third quarter of this evaluation period, Captain Cherry was again rated a Level IV, largely for the same reasons as noted above, but also included in his involvement with the North Carolina Child Response Initiative pilot program in the Eastern Division and his attention to crime issues in the division. It was also noted that the staff inspections unit provided a favorable report on the division and Captain Cherry’s leadership.”
The annual evaluation also notes that Cherry developed a 90-day strategic plan to address crime issues along the Phillips Avenue corridor, which went into effect on May 15 and is currently in place.
And yet the purported disruption caused to the department and to the city by Cherry’s multiple grievances in the 4th quarter resulted in the captain receiving an overall performance rating of Level I for the year.
“During this evaluation period, Captain Cherry failed in his responsibilities as a commanding officer of the Greensboro Police Department during the 4th quarter,” the annual evaluation states. “This complete failure in leadership and judgment significantly outweighs the considerations given to the previous quarters.”
Related documents:
• Capt. Cherry's 4th quarter evaluation for 2010
• Capt. Cherry's annual evaluation for 2010
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