Knight, race, police and job qualifications

Charles Cherry, a former Greensboro police captain, made some remarks during the speakers from the floor portion of last week’s city council meeting about the racialized cast of some statements made by city officials about police administration.

He took direct aim at Mayor Bill Knight, quoting him as stating, “Former Chief Tim Bellamy got his job because he was black.”

The mayor interrupted Cherry, and contradicted him.

“That is incorrect, sir,” Knight said.

Cherry shook his head in disbelief.

“Well, I don’t know what the newspaper said, but that is incorrect,” Knight said. “That is incorrect.”

Knight is technically correct in that he did not say verbatim that Tim Bellamy got his job as police chief because he was black. In fact he did not mention the former chief by name or use the word “black.”

The statement made by Knight during a well-attended candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Sept. 15, 2009 was this:

“I would like to be sure going forward that as we select new administration into the police department command group that we’re doing it based on ability and qualifications. We have one chief selected because of race. We had another interim chief — don’t know what his situa — We have another chief who was basically forced out on racial issues. And we have a chief today who, in my opinion, is there primarily because of race.”

At the time, Tim Bellamy, who is black, served as chief of police. Prior to that Bellamy, had served as interim chief following the resignation of David Wray, who is white, in January 2006. Prior to that, Anthony Scales, who is black, served as interim.

There is no doubt that Knight was referring to Bellamy when he said, “We have a chief today who, in my opinion, is there primarily because of race.” And Bellamy's race is undoubtedly black.

Cherry is correct in essence in saying, "Mayor Bill Knight stated that former Chief Tim Bellamy got his job because he was black."

I had the opportunity to further confirm that the remark was directed at Bellamy in a phone conversation with Knight the following Sunday, when he told me: “It does not appear to me that he might have been the most qualified person for the job.”

I have left a phone message to Knight to ask him to explain his disavowal during last week’s city council meeting. I hope he will take the opportunity to clarify the matter.