My staff column in today's paper about police investigations encourages readers to check out an extensive report by the Beloved Community Center for themselves. The report covers various cases that the center says point to a pattern of "corruption and double standards" within the Greensboro Police Department, impacting treatment of officers of color and communities of color.
You can download the document here.
Showing posts with label AJ Blake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AJ Blake. Show all posts
Police turmoil outlined in documents, community meeting to highlight visit to DOJ
A new batch of internal memos related to the administrative turmoil within the Greensboro Police Department arrived in my inbox today courtesy of the Rev. Cardes Brown, president of the Greensboro NAACP.
The documents introduce a new player, Officer Deborah Thomas, currently assigned to the legal support squad. In a Sept. 13 disciplinary appeal to City Manager Rashad Young, Thomas notes that she has a pending Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint, and alleges that she has been the subject of a string of "malicious administrative investigations" by Sgt. Jonathan Heard. It might be considered an irony that Heard is a plaintiff in a 2009 federal discrimination lawsuit against the department.
In an Oct. 8 complaint to Young, Thomas alleges that she remains in a "hostile work environment" as a result of Lt. GA Hunt and Sgt. DJ Davis' handling of Thomas' appeal to Young.
A third document reveals that Young upheld the termination of Officer AJ Blake in a Sept. 30 decision. Blake files a complaint as a private citizen and asks Young to investigate his disciplinary treatment. Blake alleges that a scheme was undertaken by police administration to terminate him as a ploy to dodge responsibility for investigating a complaint by Blake about a bogus violation related to the officer waving at Latin Kings leader Jorge Cornell.
Finally, Officer Robert Reyes persists in outlining what he contends is continued discrimination and retaliation in a memo to Young, despite the city manager's determination that the issues be handled within Reyes' chain of command.
Among Reyes' concerns is the handling of a batch of polygraph examinations in a disciplinary process that resulted in his reinstatement following suspension with a recommendation for termination. Reyes cites a statement by Chief Ken Miller quoted in YES! Weekly last month: "I have an opinion about how a polygraph should be administered. They didn't do anything wrong, but it is inconsistent with the way I think it should be used if we're going to treat employees the way they deserve to be treated."
Reyes argues, "Police Chief Miller contradicts himself in his statement to YES! Weekly. If Assistant Chief Crotts used the polygraph in a way that prevents employees from being treated the way they deserve to be treated, then something was done wrong. What is Chief Miller's opinion, on when and how polygraphs should be administered? This information should be shared with the public for transparency within the police department. What does the law and police policy state as it relates to polygraph procedures and administration?"
On Sept. 30, Greensboro police officers, members of the North Carolina Latin Kings street organization, students, pastors and other citizens met with officials at the US Department of Justice in Washington to request a federal investigation of the Greensboro Police Department. Greensboro Justice Summer will provide details during a community meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Bethel AME Church, located at 200 Regan St.
The documents introduce a new player, Officer Deborah Thomas, currently assigned to the legal support squad. In a Sept. 13 disciplinary appeal to City Manager Rashad Young, Thomas notes that she has a pending Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint, and alleges that she has been the subject of a string of "malicious administrative investigations" by Sgt. Jonathan Heard. It might be considered an irony that Heard is a plaintiff in a 2009 federal discrimination lawsuit against the department.
In an Oct. 8 complaint to Young, Thomas alleges that she remains in a "hostile work environment" as a result of Lt. GA Hunt and Sgt. DJ Davis' handling of Thomas' appeal to Young.
A third document reveals that Young upheld the termination of Officer AJ Blake in a Sept. 30 decision. Blake files a complaint as a private citizen and asks Young to investigate his disciplinary treatment. Blake alleges that a scheme was undertaken by police administration to terminate him as a ploy to dodge responsibility for investigating a complaint by Blake about a bogus violation related to the officer waving at Latin Kings leader Jorge Cornell.
Finally, Officer Robert Reyes persists in outlining what he contends is continued discrimination and retaliation in a memo to Young, despite the city manager's determination that the issues be handled within Reyes' chain of command.
Among Reyes' concerns is the handling of a batch of polygraph examinations in a disciplinary process that resulted in his reinstatement following suspension with a recommendation for termination. Reyes cites a statement by Chief Ken Miller quoted in YES! Weekly last month: "I have an opinion about how a polygraph should be administered. They didn't do anything wrong, but it is inconsistent with the way I think it should be used if we're going to treat employees the way they deserve to be treated."
Reyes argues, "Police Chief Miller contradicts himself in his statement to YES! Weekly. If Assistant Chief Crotts used the polygraph in a way that prevents employees from being treated the way they deserve to be treated, then something was done wrong. What is Chief Miller's opinion, on when and how polygraphs should be administered? This information should be shared with the public for transparency within the police department. What does the law and police policy state as it relates to polygraph procedures and administration?"
On Sept. 30, Greensboro police officers, members of the North Carolina Latin Kings street organization, students, pastors and other citizens met with officials at the US Department of Justice in Washington to request a federal investigation of the Greensboro Police Department. Greensboro Justice Summer will provide details during a community meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Bethel AME Church, located at 200 Regan St.
GPD turmoil update
The Rev. Cardes Brown confirms that Greensboro police Officer AJ Blake has been fired by interim Chief Dwight Crotts, and plans to appeal the decision to City Manager Rashad Young.
Meanwhile, suspended Capt. Charles Cherry sends a new memo to Young today adding "denial of earned compensation" to his litany of alleged mistreatment.
Memo From GPD Capt. Charles Cherry to City Manager Rashad Young, Aug. 16, 2010
Meanwhile, suspended Capt. Charles Cherry sends a new memo to Young today adding "denial of earned compensation" to his litany of alleged mistreatment.
Memo From GPD Capt. Charles Cherry to City Manager Rashad Young, Aug. 16, 2010
Two more black officers face termination from GPD
Two black officers who have filed grievances and who are plaintiffs in a federal discrimination lawsuit against the Greensboro Police Department have been suspended from the department with recommendations for termination in as many days.Capt. Charles Cherry, who was commander of the Eastern patrol division at the time he was placed on administrative leave in early June, faces termination for general conduct and for truthfulness and malicious gossip in grievances that he has filed, according a knowledgeable source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The general conduct charge relates to a June 17 e-mail Cherry sent out to members of his division providing details about his recommendation for fitness-for-duty evaluation, while truthfulness and malicious gossip infractions relate to a statement made by the captain to the effect that retired Chief Tim Bellamy was at one time a complainant in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission matter that is now in the federal courts.
Cherry was placed on suspension today. Yesterday, Officer Joseph Pryor was also suspended without pay with a recommendation for termination, said the Rev. Cardes Brown, the president of the Greensboro branch of the NAACP and an advocate for the officers. Brown said Pryor was suspended on the basis that information in one of his grievances was allegedly untruthful and constituted malicious gossip. A third officer, AJ Blake, was placed on administrative leave and recommended for termination last month for allegedly making “inaccurate and incomplete” statements and engaging in “malicious gossip” when he spoke at a press conference held more than a year ago at Brown’s church in which the officer argued that he was the victim of disparate treatment in a disciplinary matter, and for purportedly displaying an “ongoing pattern of poor judgment.”
City Manager Rashad Young said that a fourth officer “had disciplinary service” this week. It is not known at this time whether the fourth case has resulted in a suspension without pay and recommendation for termination.
Should interim Chief Dwight Crotts render a decision in favor of termination, Cherry, like the other officers, will likely appeal it up to the city manager level. But Young indicated in a July 29 personnel memo to Cherry that he feels little sympathy for his position.
“You contend that your recitation of your fitness-for-duty memorandum was an effort to dispel gossip, build trust, and continue the bond you have with your officers,” the city manager wrote. “I find that explanation disingenuous. Your purpose in reading your fitness-for-duty memorandum along with your elaboration on its merits was for the express purpose for exposing what you believed to be the ‘ultimate plan’ to terminate your employment and attack you leadership, as you stated in your June 14 memorandum.
“Your decision to both e-mail members of the department and read from the memo at line-up was clearly to cause disruption, stimulate rancor and discontent, and advance your theory of motivation and intent,” Young continued. “That is not the appropriate venue to make your argument and does not comport with the established procedures in the complaint resolution or grievance process.”
Referencing an internal investigation of Pryor without mentioning the officer by name, Cherry told City Manager Young in an Aug. 2 memo that he has access to an interview “of a professional standards investigator omitting information in an investigation that absolutely changes the course,” and that certain individuals that should have been investigated were not put under scrutiny.
“Even after Mike Speedling, the assistant city manager, in reviewing Officer Pryor’s grievance, said that either IA was incompetent or discriminatory, he wrote in your paper that that was only applied to one case,” Brown said. “The man was suspended without pay even after the assistant city manager said with regard to Pryor’s case that IA was either incompetent or discriminatory?”
Speedling was quoted in a July 28 YES! Weekly article as saying that his comments referenced only one investigation. He added, “I do not make the leap of faith that Cherry does that if one investigation is investigatively insufficient that the entire professional standards division is incapable.”
Cherry and Brown have asked how Speedling could determine that one professional standards investigation reflected discrimination or incompetence, but remain unconcerned about whether any and all investigations undertaken by the same officers might have also been tainted. How can any officers under investigation by professional standards — currently including Cherry, Pryor and Blake — feel confident they will receive a fair and competent investigation, they ask.
“Comprehend that discrimination and incompetence are not technical errors you can change by sending an investigation back to the offenders,” Cherry wrote in a July 30 memo to Young. “Comprehend that you must correct and deal with (investigation, disciplinary action) the offenders, to include finding out why the discrimination and incompetence occurred.”
Cherry has stated in his correspondence to Young that after Speedling remanded the internal investigation of Pryor back to professional affairs, then-Assistant Chief Dwight Crotts changed the determination to “unfounded.”
“The whole process of this grievance was about a charge brought against Pryor that was declared by IA as unfounded,” Brown said. “Instead of Pryor letting it go, he said, ‘I can’t let it go because there were white officers who collaborated.’”
Cherry has urged the city, so far without avail, to request an outside investigation of the police department by the US Justice Department, contending that those in positions of authority within the department are so deeply implicated in the grievances that they no longer have the ability to render fair decisions.
Brown said that during a command review meeting, Capt. John Wolfe, remarked that he didn’t trust any of the officers who are plaintiffs in the federal discrimination lawsuit, and that Crotts, who is now interim chief, agreed, saying that he didn’t trust the officers either.
“Officer Pryor has to go before Dwight Crotts for his termination hearing,” Brown said. “He will likely uphold termination because he said he doesn’t trust the officers on the suit, and Pryor is one of them, just like Cherry and Blake are. The question should be asked of him: ‘Could you be unbiased?’”
Crotts told YES! Weekly today: “I can absolutely be impartial.”
Crotts said that he doesn’t recall the conversation in which he is alleged to have said that he doesn’t trust the officers on the discrimination suit. Wolfe, who was also reached by phone today, denied outright having made the statement, saying, “Those are not my words. I’m not going to comment on it.”
The city manager told YES! Weekly today that he has at least one outstanding grievance filed by Cherry that requires a decision on his part. That is a claim filed by Cherry on July 22 that an official decision by Assistant Chief Anita Holder deeming him fit for duty following two separate psychological evaluations confirmed a pattern of incompetency and unfair treatment.
“Interim Chief Crotts, through discrimination, retaliation and abuse of power, recommends me for a fit for duty psychological assessment, for which Chief Crotts cannot begin to justify,” Cherry wrote earlier this week.
Crotts declined to comment, calling the matter “a personnel issue.”
Cherry wrote, “Interim Chief Crotts utilizes as his reasoning (for fit for duty psychological evaluation), the fact that I wrote or assisted in writing grievances. This sentence alone is clearly an act of retaliation.”
Crotts told YES! Weekly he doesn’t consider his reference to Cherry’s grievances to be evidence of retaliation.
Cherry has protested to Young that his grievances are either not investigated or receive inadequate attention, while complaints against him appear to be zealously pursued. Cherry informed Young that on June 24 Sgt. AT McHenry notified him that he was investigating him for a possible violation of the department’s truthfulness directive. Cherry quotes McHenry’s notification memo as saying that Cherry stated in complaint that “Chief TR Bellamy was a complainant on an EEOC lawsuit filed originally by approximately 44 minority officers by former chief of police David Wray. Chief Bellamy, then an assistant chief, assisted in galvanizing officers together as it related to discriminatory, unfair practices of former Chief David Wray and former Chief Wray’s administration. Then Assistant Chief TR Bellamy applied to be chief of police just prior to appointment to chief of police, withdrew his name from the lawsuit. Chief Bellamy has denied that he has ever been part of the lawsuit.”
Cherry told Young, in response that lawyer Ken Free confirmed after Bellamy completed an EEOC complaint form that the future chief was on the lawsuit, that after Bellamy was appointed interim chief to replace Wray he instructed Sgt. Steve Hunter to destroy the EEOC complaint form, and that a footnote in a court document filed by Free contains information taken from Bellamy’s complaint form.
Hunter and Free could not be reached for comment for this story.
In closing his most recent correspondence with the city manager, Cherry wrote, “Mr. Young, you appear to be determined to be compliant to the political wheel of maintaining a vital lie, the necessary deception to maintain the social fabric of the community. Many seek the guerdon of authority but lack the courageousness for amelioriation. Never forget, the rules are the equalizer, thus, you can never abandon them.”
Young responded that, to the contrary, the only political pressure he’s felt has come from the NAACP and other segments of the community calling for the Justice Department’s intervention. Young said he has strived to make decisions objectively based on the information at hand, and will continue to do so.
“Certainly I want to limit the city’s risk and the city’s exposure,” he said. “I make decisions based on the policy direction that I get, what the right thing fundamentally is to do and the professional thing is to do. If we get sued because of that, then we’ll address that and deal with it.”
Pastors refute 'malicious slander and gossip' charge against Blake
I was unable to attend the Greensboro Justice Summer panel discussion on alleged corruption and double standards at the Chavis branch library last night, but this press release from the Rev. Nelson Johnson gives a sense of what was probably discussed.
What hasn't been reported in here are the reasons for Officer AJ Blake's most recent suspension without pay and recommendation for termination.
I am posting the press release, slightly edited for punctuation and style, here:
What hasn't been reported in here are the reasons for Officer AJ Blake's most recent suspension without pay and recommendation for termination.
I am posting the press release, slightly edited for punctuation and style, here:
Ø Officer AJ Blake is once again suspended WITHOUT PAY AND RECOMMENDED FOR TERMINATION.
Ø We reiterate the call by NAACP State President Dr. William Barber for Federal and State investigations of the Greensboro Police Department (GPD).
Ø The Beloved Community Center, Spirit of the Sit-in Movement Initiative, the Greensboro Branch NAACP and the Pulpit Forum have launched “Greensboro Justice Summer 2010, an intense campaign to engage and root out the sub-culture of corruption and double standards within the Greensboro Police Department (GPD).
In a blatant disregard for truth and the suffering that they cause, leaders of the sub-culture of corruption and double standards within the Greensboro Police department (GPD) have suspended without pay and recommended for termination Latino Police Officer AJ Blake. The explanation given for Officer Blake’s suspension and the recommendation for termination is that at a June 2, 2009 press conferences Officer Blake spoke “malicious criticism and gossip” and made statements that were “inaccurate and incomplete.” As this document will make clear, all the statements made by Officer Blake were accurate and true. None of them constituted “gossip.” Officer Blake read from a prepared statement. The statements were made in the context of Officer Blake defending himself against a bevy of false charges and ongoing public slander growing largely from inside the GPD and that continue until this day.
The action of the GPD’s subculture of corruption and double standards is objectively an attempt to overthrow the city manager’s September 2009 decision to reinstate Officer Blake to his job after being fired by police Chief Bellamy and later acquitted of all charges in Superior Court.
Acting division commander Lt. JA Hunt, who replaced Captain Charles Cherry (Captain Cherry was himself removed from his job because of an already disproven “fit for duty” evaluation status.) states in the July 12th “Disciplinary Action Recommended” document that Officer Blake “demonstrated a continuing and ongoing pattern of poor judgment.”
All the charges alleged against Officer Blake in Lt. Hunt’s July 12 communication that supposedly constitute an “ongoing pattern of poor judgment” are unfounded and were fully known before he was reinstated to his job by acting Greensboro City Manager Robert Morgan in September of 2009. Although harassed, slandered and picked up off the street during his off time and brought before Assistant Chief Anita Holder where he was threatened with termination on totally false charges (which have since been dismissed), Officer Blake has completely and thoroughly complied with all that he was asked and required to do by Chief Bellamy and other supervisory personnel. There is no “continuing pattern.” No records can be produced to substantiate any post reinstatement “continuing pattern.” This is an absolutely false statement. In fact, no complaints have been sustained against Officer Blake after being reinstated by acting City Manager Robert Morgan. The decisions and recommendations communicated by Lt. Hunt constitute an attempted OVERTHROW of the city manager's decision of September 2009. We deliberately use the word “overthrow” to draw the public’s attention to the declining role of civilian authority which is increasingly intimidated by police authority. It will be shameful if the sub-culture of corruption and double standards within the GPD is allowed to get away with this unconscionable and retaliatory act.
Although More Than a Year Old, All The Allegations Against Officer Blake are False:
The GPD alleges that Officer Blake was guilty of “malicious criticism and gossip,” by making statements that were “inaccurate and incomplete,” and that these statements constitute “an ongoing pattern of poor judgment.” We have looked at the evidence and we are thoroughly convinced that all the allegations against Officer Blake are false. The GPD mentions several specific examples from a June 2, 2009 press conference. We will quote from that press statement:
#1 Sergeant Sizemore stated that “he wished that Jorge Cornell had been killed: The actual statement made by Officer Blake was:
“Once when I was interviewing Cesar Herrera, a member of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN), I was interrupted by Officer Sizemore who took over the interview. Officer Sizemore began shouting at Cesar and said that he wished that Jorge Cornell, the leader of the ALKQN who had been recently shot, had been killed. It was not said in a joking manner.
This statement is true. There is nothing misleading or inaccurate about it. The context is clear. Sergeant Sizemore admits making the statement but says that he was joking. How can a statement like that possibly be a joke! Further Sergeant Sizemore made the same statement at another time to another person.
#2 Sergeant Sizemore said that his image of a gang member is a Latino Male. The actual statement of by Officer Blake was:
“Over the last eighteen months or so the Greensboro Police Department’s Gang Unit has had a stepped up focus on gang activity. This has been focused mainly on Latino gangs. When I indicated that there was other more serious gang activity than the harassment type activities in which we were engaged, Sergeant Sizemore said that his image of a gang member is a Latino male.”
This statement is simply true. Sergeant Sizemore was one of the more intoxicated officers involved in manufacturing the false charges against Officer Blake which have been defeated in court. This statement is also consistent with Sergeant Sizemore’s so-called “joking” statement that he wished Jorge Cornell had been killed.
#3 That Greensboro Police Officer Christopher Schultheis shot and killed an unarmed African American male: The actual statement by Officer Blake was:
In April of 2008 Greensboro Police Christopher Schulthesis shot and killed a 22-year-old black man, named James Paschal Jr.” Officer Schulthesis was the only witness to the incident. He said that James Paschal Jr. would not follow orders to remove his hand from his pocket and that he kept walking towards him; therefore he shot him nine times. It turned out that James Paschal was not armed. There were other tools that Officer Schulthesis had available to him to contain Mr. Paschal, including pepper spray. Officer Schulthesis killed an unarmed man who was a distance away from him for advancing on him in an aggressive manner. He was not charged with a crime. I pushed a person who was within inches and who was advancing on me in an aggressive manner, yet I was charged with assault.
It is clear that Officer Blake was attempting to point out the double standard. There might be those who disagree that there are double standards within the department. However, there is nothing in the statement that is factually inaccurate, and clearly the statement was not meant to be a complete report on the incident.
#4 That Sergeant Hafekaneyer and Officer Ashley Brown used anti Latino slurs in my presence: The actual statement by Officer Blake was:
“In 2006, I filed a complaint against Sergeant Hafekaneyer for describing Latinos as “wetbacks” and for saying that we all looked like illegal aliens to him. I also filed a complaint against Officer Ashley Brown. He said that because I am from Honduras I must be a gang member and that he considers everyone from Honduras to be a gang member.
Although it has been denied, this statement is true and accurate.
If a reasonably objective observer could examine the content and the context of the statements made more than a year ago by Officer Blake that are now being used against him, they would find the statements to be factually and contextually true. Further, they would find the behavior of certain GPD personnel to be vindictive, vicious and retaliatory. The sub-culture of corruption and double standards within the GPD is desperate and is engaging in unreasonable and unjustified behavior. The magnitude and meaning of these outrageous actions against Officer Blake can only be fully appreciated within the context of his standing against anti-Latino slurs and double standards.
Consider that Officer Blake was charged with two counts of simple assault in January of 2009, suspended from his job without pay, and subsequently fired by police Chief Timothy Bellamy. He was acquitted of both charges in July of 2009. In the course of fighting these false charges, he was slandered, ridiculed and humiliated by elements of the sub-culture within the police department. Also he and his six-year old daughter were economically depleted. In spite of doing pick up work, he lost his home.
After a rigorous eight-month effort and outcries from the community, the Greensboro City Manager overruled the Chief, reinstating Officer Blake to his job. Officer Blake returned to an extremely hostile work environment where he was called a piece of “sh-t” in front of his fiancée by Captain Wolf. Some officers stated that they would not provide back-up for Officer Blake, if he ever called for help. Additionally, demeaning and slanderous statements about Officer Blake were written on the walls of a police substation. A group of white police officers — in uniform — even came to a Greensboro City Council Meeting and vehemently and publicly opposed the city manager’s decision to reinstate Officer Blake, calling him “unfit” for duty. This seems a clear, public act of insubordination to their superior, the city manager, about which nothing has been done. Further, the myth has been maintained that Officer Blake has some kind of inappropriate relationship with the Latin King leader Jorge Cornell. Officer Blake was hauled in during his off time because of this so-called relationship with Cornell and was threatened to be fired on these false relationship claims.
Having been reinstated Officer Blake recently accumulated enough money to sign a lease for an apartment and now he finds that he is once again without a job and without income based on false charges. This is evil. Greensboro is a better city than this to allow a wink and a nod at this kind of behavior.
Once again, we will say what we have been saying over and over again. We are convinced that the great majority of officers with GPD want to do their job and want to do it well. However, the sub-culture of which we speak is a major problem that is grinding up some of the best police officers within the department. We are not against the police. We are for the police and the need for good police work. We are opposing with all of our strength the subculture of corruption and double standards that has taken over the leadership of the department and has created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation as it systematically retaliates against those who raise legitimate grievances and those who try to stand against the sub-culture of corruption and double standards.
The safety and well being of the citizens of Greensboro, especially the poor and people of color, are being put in greater danger by the behavior of the subculture within the GPD. This city is headed down a dangerous road. The city leadership, including the mayor and most members of the city council, are in denial about the magnitude and meaning of the problem.
We reiterate the request made by state president of the NAACP that federal and state authorities launch an independent investigation into the status of the Greensboro Police Department.
In response to the continued corruption, lying, and attacks by GPD on its members who have done no wrong, we fully launched our “Greensboro Justice Summer” Campaign. Included in our plans are two public hearings on police misconduct. This will give the public a chance to share, within a safe atmosphere, any complaints against the GPD. We invite all the residents of Greensboro to join us in this undertaking.
Finally, we call upon the city leaders to end their state of denial and assume responsibility for helping to guide the city out of this deepening crisis.
Perkins supports 'cultural audit' of GPD, but not a DOJ investigation
UPDATE: Some people report being confused by this post. I'm happy to take questions in the comment thread here, or over the phone. You can reach me at 336.316.1231.
ORIGINAL POST: Greensboro City Manager Rashad Young is exploring the possibility of having a cultural audit performed on the police department, at-large Councilman Robbie Perkins says, adding that the audit would “take a look at the interaction and action of the various employees, make sure people are communicating, being treated fairly, and if they’re not being treated fairly, find out why.”
Perkins dismissed the notion of requesting an outside investigation of the department by the US Justice Department, a course of action called for by the state NAACP. Perkins said in an interview yesterday that he approached the city manager after speaking with the Rev. Cardes Brown, the president of the Greensboro NAACP.
“I asked him whether he thought it was the right thing,” Perkins said. “He said it wasn’t warranted and he wouldn’t recommend it. I think the manager and the police can run the department, and we don’t need the feds to come in.”
Meanwhile, Brown said during the monthly meeting of the Greensboro NAACP yesterday that both Perkins and District 2 Councilman Jim Kee told him they planned to ask Young “to ask for an investigation by the Justice Department,” adding that he was told that the two council members thought they could get five votes to compel the city manager to request federal intervention.
The city council meets on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., and Brown asked NAACP members to “flood Robbie’s e-mail, and Jim Kee’s, and can they not argue with the others that they can likely get to get that five-to-four vote.”
Skip Alston, who chairs the Guilford County Commission and who is the former state president of the NAACP, leant his support, as did Carolyn Coleman, a fellow county commissioner who serves as secretary of the national board of the NAACP.
“They need to ask for an investigation,” Alston said. “And if there isn’t [a culture of corruption], then there’s no problem. As elected officials we need to hold them accountable to find out whether it is or it ain’t.”
Coleman urged members to lobby the two black members of council, Kee and District 1 Councilwoman Dianne Bellamy-Small, notwithstanding that Brown said Bellamy-Small indicated she didn’t like his attitude and wouldn’t talk to him. “And if they don’t,” Coleman said, “then we know what to do in the next election.”
Brown seemed to suggest he would stake his reputation on there being a culture of corruption in the department.
“The same person [Assistant Chief Dwight Crotts] who reevaluated Capt. [Charles] Cherry is now going to be made the interim chief,” Brown said. “Word on the street is that there are two being considered for chief and one of them is [Assistant Chief] Anita Holder. Anita Holder sent a squad car when [Officer AJ Blake] was out there watching us getting arrested on the other side of the street. She said, ‘I should suspend you right now because you’re hanging out with criminals.’ All the criminals were up there in the department. She sent him home. Based on a civil rights law, that constituted kidnapping. He was unarmed. Two officers drove up, ordered him in the car, took him up to her office. She told him to go home or be fired. It’s a violation of his civil rights. He was off duty, wasn’t supposed to return for two or three days. But you can do that when you don’t have any checks and balances.”
Blake has recently been suspended without pay and recommended for termination.
Cherry and Blake, who are both plaintiffs along with 37 other black officers in a federal racial discrimination lawsuit, sat near the front of the meeting, stood to be recognized and received applause from those in attendance. A third plaintiff, Officer JL Pryor, was also recognized at the meeting. All three officers have filed grievances, and Cherry has helped the other two with their grievances.
The three officers did not speak publicly, but Cherry handed Brown a sheaf of papers, which included multiple copies of a letter written by Cherry’s personal psychologist to Chief Tim Bellamy, and an e-mail sent by Cherry to officers in the Eastern Division patrol command explaining why he has been placed on administrative duty pending fitness-for-duty evaluation. The materials were later distributed among those attending the meeting. The psychologist’s name is redacted.
“It is unusual for individuals presenting with the issues noted by Captain Cherry to seek mental health interventions,” the letter reads. “He is typical of a well-functioning, non-disturbed individual who is not in mental health treatment.
“I am aware that Captain Cherry has submitted several grievances to appropriate departmental personnel. These submittals appear to be reasonable reactions to identifiable challenges in the work environment.
“It is my professional opinion that Captain Cherry is mentally fit for duty and is capable of exercising independent judgment, recognizing parameters of authority and functioning effectively within departmental policies.”
Brown said that Cherry has been evaluated by a second psychologist that was chosen by the department, who has also determined that nothing is wrong with him.
Since the time Cherry’s superiors recommended him for fitness-for-duty evaluation, Assistant Chief Dwight Crotts has rated Cherry a Level I on his 4th quarter and annual performance evaluations, on the heels of three successive Level IV ratings. Level 5 is the highest rating an officer can obtain. Brown said that following Cherry’s appeal, Chief Bellamy changed his annual rating to a Level II.
Patting Cherry on the chest, Brown said, “In my opinion, this should be the chief of police.”
Brown said that a human resources manager said that Cherry “represents the 4 percent in the department that want to do right because he says to his people under his command: ‘No cursing.’ That’s what’s in the book. And somebody said, ‘Only 4 percent do that.’ So he said, ‘You want me to violate the rules?’ This is ridiculous. Everybody I see has said of him: ‘He’s one of the finest men on the force.’ 23-year veteran. What did he do wrong? He’s still the best one on the force. But the moment he set out to help others who were under his command, to follow guidelines of procedure. It’s one thing to complain, but do it like you’re supposed to do it within the department. So they did grievances. Because of the grievances he’s now become the targeted person to get out.”
Brown said he told Councilman Perkins: “You’re worried about them having to fire everybody; they ain’t going to have to fire nobody.”
“Just call for a Justice Department investigation and they’ll all quit,” Brown continued. “You ain’t got to fire nobody. And if they’re clean they won’t quit. If they’re doing it right, they ain’t got to worry about no investigation.”
Perkins said he doubts that he’ll receive many e-mails over the next couple days calling on him to vote for a federal investigation, nothing that he attended a 50th anniversary celebration of Dudley High School, a historically black high school, on Saturday. The event was attended by a large number of black constituents, and Perkins said none of them brought up the police department.
“I don’t think we can get buy-in from all the factions,” the councilman said. “I do think we can come up with a way of giving the next police chief the best chance to do the job…. You’ve got to talk about it. Make sure lines of communication are open. Make sure people are honest with each other. And you don’t whisper about it.”
UPDATE: 9:08 a.m.: The city announces that the two final candidates for chief of the Greensboro Police Department are Kenneth C. Miller, senior deputy chief for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and Lisa G. Womack, former police chief of the Elgin Police Department in Illinois. More information here.
UPDATE, 9:27 a.m.: District 2 City Councilman Jim Kee's account of events tracks more closely with that of the Rev. Cardes Brown than does at-large Councilman Robbie Perkins.
Kee says this morning that he and Perkins are considering asking for an outside investigation, and Perkins mentioned the Justice Department as the most likely agency for the job. Kee said he expects to talk to fellow council members about the matter today, and finalize a plan. He added that it's a possibility that the council will take a vote tomorrow, but also possible it may happen later.
Kee indicated he sees some merit in bringing the Justice Department in.
"There’s certain facets of the community that thinks there’s corruption in the in the police department," Kee said. "If there’s isn’t, then this will put that to rest. If there is, then we’ll have to address it."
UPDATE: 9:43 a.m.: Kee called back to say that after consulting with the city manager, he is more inclined to support the idea of having a cultural audit done, as Perkins supports, than bringing in the Justice Department. Kee said he expects Young to recommend the cultural audit to members of city council.
ORIGINAL POST: Greensboro City Manager Rashad Young is exploring the possibility of having a cultural audit performed on the police department, at-large Councilman Robbie Perkins says, adding that the audit would “take a look at the interaction and action of the various employees, make sure people are communicating, being treated fairly, and if they’re not being treated fairly, find out why.”
Perkins dismissed the notion of requesting an outside investigation of the department by the US Justice Department, a course of action called for by the state NAACP. Perkins said in an interview yesterday that he approached the city manager after speaking with the Rev. Cardes Brown, the president of the Greensboro NAACP.
“I asked him whether he thought it was the right thing,” Perkins said. “He said it wasn’t warranted and he wouldn’t recommend it. I think the manager and the police can run the department, and we don’t need the feds to come in.”
Meanwhile, Brown said during the monthly meeting of the Greensboro NAACP yesterday that both Perkins and District 2 Councilman Jim Kee told him they planned to ask Young “to ask for an investigation by the Justice Department,” adding that he was told that the two council members thought they could get five votes to compel the city manager to request federal intervention.
The city council meets on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., and Brown asked NAACP members to “flood Robbie’s e-mail, and Jim Kee’s, and can they not argue with the others that they can likely get to get that five-to-four vote.”
Skip Alston, who chairs the Guilford County Commission and who is the former state president of the NAACP, leant his support, as did Carolyn Coleman, a fellow county commissioner who serves as secretary of the national board of the NAACP.
“They need to ask for an investigation,” Alston said. “And if there isn’t [a culture of corruption], then there’s no problem. As elected officials we need to hold them accountable to find out whether it is or it ain’t.”
Coleman urged members to lobby the two black members of council, Kee and District 1 Councilwoman Dianne Bellamy-Small, notwithstanding that Brown said Bellamy-Small indicated she didn’t like his attitude and wouldn’t talk to him. “And if they don’t,” Coleman said, “then we know what to do in the next election.”
Brown seemed to suggest he would stake his reputation on there being a culture of corruption in the department.
“The same person [Assistant Chief Dwight Crotts] who reevaluated Capt. [Charles] Cherry is now going to be made the interim chief,” Brown said. “Word on the street is that there are two being considered for chief and one of them is [Assistant Chief] Anita Holder. Anita Holder sent a squad car when [Officer AJ Blake] was out there watching us getting arrested on the other side of the street. She said, ‘I should suspend you right now because you’re hanging out with criminals.’ All the criminals were up there in the department. She sent him home. Based on a civil rights law, that constituted kidnapping. He was unarmed. Two officers drove up, ordered him in the car, took him up to her office. She told him to go home or be fired. It’s a violation of his civil rights. He was off duty, wasn’t supposed to return for two or three days. But you can do that when you don’t have any checks and balances.”
Blake has recently been suspended without pay and recommended for termination.
Cherry and Blake, who are both plaintiffs along with 37 other black officers in a federal racial discrimination lawsuit, sat near the front of the meeting, stood to be recognized and received applause from those in attendance. A third plaintiff, Officer JL Pryor, was also recognized at the meeting. All three officers have filed grievances, and Cherry has helped the other two with their grievances.
The three officers did not speak publicly, but Cherry handed Brown a sheaf of papers, which included multiple copies of a letter written by Cherry’s personal psychologist to Chief Tim Bellamy, and an e-mail sent by Cherry to officers in the Eastern Division patrol command explaining why he has been placed on administrative duty pending fitness-for-duty evaluation. The materials were later distributed among those attending the meeting. The psychologist’s name is redacted.
“It is unusual for individuals presenting with the issues noted by Captain Cherry to seek mental health interventions,” the letter reads. “He is typical of a well-functioning, non-disturbed individual who is not in mental health treatment.
“I am aware that Captain Cherry has submitted several grievances to appropriate departmental personnel. These submittals appear to be reasonable reactions to identifiable challenges in the work environment.
“It is my professional opinion that Captain Cherry is mentally fit for duty and is capable of exercising independent judgment, recognizing parameters of authority and functioning effectively within departmental policies.”
Brown said that Cherry has been evaluated by a second psychologist that was chosen by the department, who has also determined that nothing is wrong with him.
Since the time Cherry’s superiors recommended him for fitness-for-duty evaluation, Assistant Chief Dwight Crotts has rated Cherry a Level I on his 4th quarter and annual performance evaluations, on the heels of three successive Level IV ratings. Level 5 is the highest rating an officer can obtain. Brown said that following Cherry’s appeal, Chief Bellamy changed his annual rating to a Level II.
Patting Cherry on the chest, Brown said, “In my opinion, this should be the chief of police.”
Brown said that a human resources manager said that Cherry “represents the 4 percent in the department that want to do right because he says to his people under his command: ‘No cursing.’ That’s what’s in the book. And somebody said, ‘Only 4 percent do that.’ So he said, ‘You want me to violate the rules?’ This is ridiculous. Everybody I see has said of him: ‘He’s one of the finest men on the force.’ 23-year veteran. What did he do wrong? He’s still the best one on the force. But the moment he set out to help others who were under his command, to follow guidelines of procedure. It’s one thing to complain, but do it like you’re supposed to do it within the department. So they did grievances. Because of the grievances he’s now become the targeted person to get out.”
Brown said he told Councilman Perkins: “You’re worried about them having to fire everybody; they ain’t going to have to fire nobody.”
“Just call for a Justice Department investigation and they’ll all quit,” Brown continued. “You ain’t got to fire nobody. And if they’re clean they won’t quit. If they’re doing it right, they ain’t got to worry about no investigation.”
Perkins said he doubts that he’ll receive many e-mails over the next couple days calling on him to vote for a federal investigation, nothing that he attended a 50th anniversary celebration of Dudley High School, a historically black high school, on Saturday. The event was attended by a large number of black constituents, and Perkins said none of them brought up the police department.
“I don’t think we can get buy-in from all the factions,” the councilman said. “I do think we can come up with a way of giving the next police chief the best chance to do the job…. You’ve got to talk about it. Make sure lines of communication are open. Make sure people are honest with each other. And you don’t whisper about it.”
UPDATE: 9:08 a.m.: The city announces that the two final candidates for chief of the Greensboro Police Department are Kenneth C. Miller, senior deputy chief for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, and Lisa G. Womack, former police chief of the Elgin Police Department in Illinois. More information here.
UPDATE, 9:27 a.m.: District 2 City Councilman Jim Kee's account of events tracks more closely with that of the Rev. Cardes Brown than does at-large Councilman Robbie Perkins.
Kee says this morning that he and Perkins are considering asking for an outside investigation, and Perkins mentioned the Justice Department as the most likely agency for the job. Kee said he expects to talk to fellow council members about the matter today, and finalize a plan. He added that it's a possibility that the council will take a vote tomorrow, but also possible it may happen later.
Kee indicated he sees some merit in bringing the Justice Department in.
"There’s certain facets of the community that thinks there’s corruption in the in the police department," Kee said. "If there’s isn’t, then this will put that to rest. If there is, then we’ll have to address it."
UPDATE: 9:43 a.m.: Kee called back to say that after consulting with the city manager, he is more inclined to support the idea of having a cultural audit done, as Perkins supports, than bringing in the Justice Department. Kee said he expects Young to recommend the cultural audit to members of city council.
Officer AJ Blake recommended for termination
Officer AJ Blake said today that he has been suspended without pay from the Greensboro Police Department and recommended for termination.
Blake said the reason given for the disciplinary action was a press conference he held last June at New Light Missionary Baptist Church with pastors from the Pulpit Forum. The press conference took place before Chief Tim Bellamy made an initial decision to terminate Blake. That decision was ultimately overturned by then-interim City Manager Bob Morgan.
Blake said he is certain his recent suspension, of which he was notified yesterday, came about because of internal investigations initiated recently to determine the truthfulness of multiple grievances written by Capt. Charles Cherry on behalf of himself and other officers.
Blake said the remark in question was a "truthful statement."
Related document:
• Officer Blake statement, June 2, 2009
Blake said the reason given for the disciplinary action was a press conference he held last June at New Light Missionary Baptist Church with pastors from the Pulpit Forum. The press conference took place before Chief Tim Bellamy made an initial decision to terminate Blake. That decision was ultimately overturned by then-interim City Manager Bob Morgan.
Blake said he is certain his recent suspension, of which he was notified yesterday, came about because of internal investigations initiated recently to determine the truthfulness of multiple grievances written by Capt. Charles Cherry on behalf of himself and other officers.
Blake said the remark in question was a "truthful statement."
Related document:
• Officer Blake statement, June 2, 2009
Correction: AJ Blake
A story in the June 2 issue of YES! Weekly entitled “Officer alleges retaliation in grievance about hand wave” requires correction. The story states that Greensboro police Officer AJ Blake had his law enforcement license suspended for five years requires clarification. In fact, Blake still has his law enforcement license. A state probable cause committee found probable cause to allow his case to go forward. Blake has requested a formal hearing with an administrative judge through the NC Office of Administrative Hearings. According to official procedures provided by the NC Justice Department, after the administrative hearing, the case is referred back to the full NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards for a final decision. The members of the probable cause committee who participated in the initial finding of probable cause are excluded from the final decision by the full the commission. A possible outcome of this process is that Blake would lose his law enforcement license for five years.
Officer Blake to go before standards commission
Greensboro police Officer AJ Blake goes before the NC Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission for a probable cause hearing on Feb. 17, said Jennifer Canada, a spokeswoman for the NC Department of Justice.
The Rev. Cardes Brown, an advocate for Blake, said last night that the officer's law enforcement license could be suspended for up to five years.
The Rev. Cardes Brown, an advocate for Blake, said last night that the officer's law enforcement license could be suspended for up to five years.
Greensboro council to discuss officer's reinstatement
Interim City Manager Bob Morgan confirms that the Greensboro City Council will hold a closed-session meeting on Friday to ask him questions about his decision to reinstate Officer AJ Blake, overturning a termination decision by police administration. An official notice states that Mayor Yvonne Johnson has set a special meeting for 2 p.m. "for the purpose of adjourning to closed session for the discussion of personnel matters."
Some background here and here about the suspension, criminal charges against, and eventual acquittal of Blake.
"Some council members are interested in the issue, and I offered to explain that in closed session," Morgan told me. "We don't have another meeting until Oct. 20, and they wanted to go ahead and get that out of the way, so we scheduled a special meeting." Morgan said he was constrained from identifying the council members who had expressed concern about his decision. He added that he is legally prohibited from publicly discussing his reasons for overturning Blake's termination.
One member of council will not be there. Robbie Perkins said he already had plans to be out of town on business on Friday, adding that he was "very concerned" about the meeting and does not think it was appropriate for council to be involved in such a personnel decision.
UPDATE: Colleague Amanda Lehmert reports that the council member who requested the meeting was Mary Rakestraw. Lehmert says that Rakestraw and another council member did not realize Blake had been acquitted.
Some background here and here about the suspension, criminal charges against, and eventual acquittal of Blake.
"Some council members are interested in the issue, and I offered to explain that in closed session," Morgan told me. "We don't have another meeting until Oct. 20, and they wanted to go ahead and get that out of the way, so we scheduled a special meeting." Morgan said he was constrained from identifying the council members who had expressed concern about his decision. He added that he is legally prohibited from publicly discussing his reasons for overturning Blake's termination.
One member of council will not be there. Robbie Perkins said he already had plans to be out of town on business on Friday, adding that he was "very concerned" about the meeting and does not think it was appropriate for council to be involved in such a personnel decision.
UPDATE: Colleague Amanda Lehmert reports that the council member who requested the meeting was Mary Rakestraw. Lehmert says that Rakestraw and another council member did not realize Blake had been acquitted.
AJ Blake's appeal
AJ Blake found not guilty
A Guilford County jury found AJ Blake not guilty this afternoon of two charges of misdemeanor assault against a female. The charges stemmed from an incident at a drunken police party at the Greensboro Police Club on the night of Jan. 16.
The first alleged assault involved Lorraine Galloway, the girlfriend of Greensboro police Sgt. Craig Myrick. Galloway had accused Blake of grabbing her by the throat. The second alleged assault involved Sandra Sanchez, who is Blake's girlfriend. Galloway accused Blake of kicking Sanchez in the back, prompting her to confront the off-duty officer. Sanchez testified that her boyfriend did not assault her and has never touched her in anger.
Blake was terminated from the Greensboro Police Department after a hearing on July 17. He is appealing the decision to interim City Manager Bob Morgan.
The first alleged assault involved Lorraine Galloway, the girlfriend of Greensboro police Sgt. Craig Myrick. Galloway had accused Blake of grabbing her by the throat. The second alleged assault involved Sandra Sanchez, who is Blake's girlfriend. Galloway accused Blake of kicking Sanchez in the back, prompting her to confront the off-duty officer. Sanchez testified that her boyfriend did not assault her and has never touched her in anger.
Blake was terminated from the Greensboro Police Department after a hearing on July 17. He is appealing the decision to interim City Manager Bob Morgan.
Former gang squad officer fired
AJ Blake tells me he has been fired from the Greensboro Police Department. He underwent an administrative hearing on July 17, and received the news on July 21.
Blake's supporters had questioned why the police department scheduled Blake's termination hearing ahead of a July 27 court date for an hearing on the officer's appeal to his two district court convictions for assault on a female. Assistant Chief Anita Holder declined to discuss the matter, citing personnel law.
Blake's supporters had questioned why the police department scheduled Blake's termination hearing ahead of a July 27 court date for an hearing on the officer's appeal to his two district court convictions for assault on a female. Assistant Chief Anita Holder declined to discuss the matter, citing personnel law.
Blake awaits termination decision
AJ Blake is awaiting a decision tonight on whether he'll keep his job as a Greensboro police officer. Blake faced an administrative hearing on July 17, and expects to hear the decision from administration tomorrow. On July 16, supporters such as Wesley Morris (see video), an organizer with the Beloved Community Center, gathered in front of the police department in a demonstration of support. Supporters asked why the police department insisted on holding the termination hearing before Blake's criminal case is resolved. Blake was convicted of two counts of assaulting a female. He appealed the convictions, and is scheduled to be in superior court on July 27.
Demonstration to support Officer AJ Blake from Jordan Green on Vimeo.
BCC: Blake faces termination hearing
The Beloved Community Center says Greensboro police Officer AJ Blake is facing a termination hearing on Friday. Blake has appealed two district court convictions for assault on a female, and his superior court trial is scheduled for July 27.
The Beloved Community Center is calling for a demonstration of support for Blake on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Governmental Plaza. They are urging supporters to call Chief Tim Bellamy, interim City Manager Bob Morgan and Mayor Yvonne Johnson, and ask them to delay Blake's administrative hearing until after the officer's trial.
Here's how the Beloved Community Center describes the officer's situation: "Officer AJ Blake, a Latino police officer, is taking a bold stance against racial and personal prejudices within the Greensboro Police Department. He filed a complaint against the police department for anti-Latino racial slurs. He opposed tactics of suppression that the gang squad used against the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation."
The Beloved Community Center is calling for a demonstration of support for Blake on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Governmental Plaza. They are urging supporters to call Chief Tim Bellamy, interim City Manager Bob Morgan and Mayor Yvonne Johnson, and ask them to delay Blake's administrative hearing until after the officer's trial.
Here's how the Beloved Community Center describes the officer's situation: "Officer AJ Blake, a Latino police officer, is taking a bold stance against racial and personal prejudices within the Greensboro Police Department. He filed a complaint against the police department for anti-Latino racial slurs. He opposed tactics of suppression that the gang squad used against the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation."
Officer Ahmed Blake charged
Guilford County court records indicate that Ahmed Joseph Blake, 32, has been charged with misdemeanor assault on a female. As of today at 3 p.m., court records indicated that the warrant had not been served. More here.
Update, Jan. 22, 4:24 p.m.: As of 3:12 p.m., court records indicate that the warrant against Blake has still not been served.
Update, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m.: As of 4:14 p.m., court records indicate that Blake has still not been served.
Update, Jan. 27: Warrant served. In fact, information on the warrant indicates that it was received, served and returned on Jan. 20.
So why did the computer terminal for criminal cases at the Guilford County Courthouse indicate on Jan. 21-23 that the warrant was "unserved" and why did a clerk tell me on two occasions that it was not in the court's posession? Typically, once a warrant is served and returned at the magistrate's office it goes directly to the clerk of court. The two offices are across the street from each other. I try to be pretty agreeable when working with folks in the criminal justice system, but there's no good explanation for why a public record such as a warrant should be in limbo for three to seven days.
The same thing happened with the case file for Lankford Protective Services officer Byron Wayne Meadows. It took seven days for the file to travel from the magistrate's office after the warrant was served across the street to the courthouse, and no one seemed to know where it was in the meantime. And that was after five months in which the warrant wasn't served. Is it because both Blake and Meadows are members of the law enforcement community that the paperwork is so screwy? Is it because public servants who work in the criminal justice system don't like media types to look into these cases?
Whatever the case, Byron Meadows, AKA Bryan Meadows faces trial on Thursday. I'll be there.
Now, back to Ahmed Blake:
The allegation against Blake ties into two political cross-currents in Greensboro:
1) Blake has worked with the gang enforcement unit, which is unpopular with some progressive constituencies in the city.
2) At-large Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw made the point to me — echoed by others — that Blake is one of the 39 black police officers who has filed suit against the city, claiming discrimination under the administration of former police Chief David Wray. Based on a notion that the integrity of the police department has deteriorated since the departure of Wray, Rakestraw and fellow council conservatives Mike Barber and Trudy Wade have become increasingly critical of police conduct.
Update, Jan. 22, 4:24 p.m.: As of 3:12 p.m., court records indicate that the warrant against Blake has still not been served.
Update, Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m.: As of 4:14 p.m., court records indicate that Blake has still not been served.
Update, Jan. 27: Warrant served. In fact, information on the warrant indicates that it was received, served and returned on Jan. 20.
So why did the computer terminal for criminal cases at the Guilford County Courthouse indicate on Jan. 21-23 that the warrant was "unserved" and why did a clerk tell me on two occasions that it was not in the court's posession? Typically, once a warrant is served and returned at the magistrate's office it goes directly to the clerk of court. The two offices are across the street from each other. I try to be pretty agreeable when working with folks in the criminal justice system, but there's no good explanation for why a public record such as a warrant should be in limbo for three to seven days.
The same thing happened with the case file for Lankford Protective Services officer Byron Wayne Meadows. It took seven days for the file to travel from the magistrate's office after the warrant was served across the street to the courthouse, and no one seemed to know where it was in the meantime. And that was after five months in which the warrant wasn't served. Is it because both Blake and Meadows are members of the law enforcement community that the paperwork is so screwy? Is it because public servants who work in the criminal justice system don't like media types to look into these cases?
Whatever the case, Byron Meadows, AKA Bryan Meadows faces trial on Thursday. I'll be there.
Now, back to Ahmed Blake:
The allegation against Blake ties into two political cross-currents in Greensboro:
1) Blake has worked with the gang enforcement unit, which is unpopular with some progressive constituencies in the city.
2) At-large Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw made the point to me — echoed by others — that Blake is one of the 39 black police officers who has filed suit against the city, claiming discrimination under the administration of former police Chief David Wray. Based on a notion that the integrity of the police department has deteriorated since the departure of Wray, Rakestraw and fellow council conservatives Mike Barber and Trudy Wade have become increasingly critical of police conduct.
GPD officer suspended, under investigation for alleged assault
Greensboro police Officer AJ Blake has been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation of an alleged assault that occurred while he was off duty, the department announced today. The 32-year-old Blake joined the department in 2001 and earns $44,147 in his current assignment with the investigative bureau, according to police records.
In his work as a member of the GPD’s gang enforcement unit, Blake has had a number of encounters with members of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, or Latin Kings. North Carolina Latin King leader Jorge Cornell says he first met Blake in December 2007, following Cornell’s arrest on a charge of assaulting a government official (police officer). Cornell was acquitted of the assault charge by a district court judge in December 2008, and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was convicted of resisting arrest.
Cornell believes that after the arrest, Blake tried to frame him for assaulting a police officer.
“That night was the first night I met the gang unit,” Cornell said. “We go back to the department, and I’m talking to AJ Blake. I took a comfortability to him; he’s Honduran. I said, ‘This is crazy. I didn’t assault no government official.’ He asked me what hand did I write with? I told him my left. So then you see the warrant specifically says that I used my left arm to assault this officer.”
Blake’s supervisor, Sgt. Ron Sizemore, said at the time that he was unfamiliar with the incident.
More on Blake to come.
In his work as a member of the GPD’s gang enforcement unit, Blake has had a number of encounters with members of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, or Latin Kings. North Carolina Latin King leader Jorge Cornell says he first met Blake in December 2007, following Cornell’s arrest on a charge of assaulting a government official (police officer). Cornell was acquitted of the assault charge by a district court judge in December 2008, and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was convicted of resisting arrest.
Cornell believes that after the arrest, Blake tried to frame him for assaulting a police officer.
“That night was the first night I met the gang unit,” Cornell said. “We go back to the department, and I’m talking to AJ Blake. I took a comfortability to him; he’s Honduran. I said, ‘This is crazy. I didn’t assault no government official.’ He asked me what hand did I write with? I told him my left. So then you see the warrant specifically says that I used my left arm to assault this officer.”
Blake’s supervisor, Sgt. Ron Sizemore, said at the time that he was unfamiliar with the incident.
More on Blake to come.
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