No conclusions in police case yet
I was occupied with a medical procedure yesterday and didn't attend the mayor's press conference regarding grand jury indictments of two Greensboro police officers.
Reading his remarks, however, gives me the sense that Mayor Holliday was a bit incautious. While he noted that Tom Fox and Scott Sanders are "presumed innocent until proven guilty," he added that "the grand jury's finding of probable cause for the indictments indicates a real basis for concern regarding the alleged activities."
While I wouldn't necessarily disagree, I also would heed the statement of attorney Seth Cohen, representing Sanders: "If there is one thing the media and public hopefully have learned over the past few years, it is that it can be a serious and embarrassing mistake to assume that because someone has been indicted, that person is in fact guilty of a crime."
Cohen obviously was referring to the Duke lacrosse rape case, in which a Durham grand jury returned indictments against three individuals based on what turned out to be no credible evidence.
It's a common expression in North Carolina legal circles that a prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich for killing the pig. The grand jury only hears the evidence a prosecutor wants it to hear. The defendant is not present; there is no cross examination of prosecution witnesses; there is no transcript of the proceedings.
Ironically, Holliday invoked the Duke case as a reminder of "the pitfalls of bowing to pressure to speak before the facts are known." He was speaking about the City Council, which remained publicly silent about details of the long police investigation. But the mayor should be careful not to assume the role here that Duke President Richard Brodhead played in Durham when he was so quick to agree that the Duke lacrosse players were guilty of very bad behavior, if not the actual crimes charged.
Here, the public was led to believe that charges stemming from this investigation would go much higher than one sergeant and one officer. Maybe they will yet. Sometimes prosecutors start with the small fish and work their way up by cutting deals to pry incriminating information out of those first indicted. On the other hand, I've also heard that this might be it. If it ends here, does that mean that a scandal that's been laid at the feet of former Chief David Wray really was much more limited in scope?
The council will meet tonight and should agree to release much more information to the public. Eventually, for all this to settle down, people need to see proven, established facts -- not just indictments that may or may not stand up in a court of law.
Comments (9)
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The council has been saying that they have a lot to say, but they couldn't talk until the SBI delivered its report. Well, the SBI has delivered its report with two minor fish indicted, and it may be problematical that they will get any convictions. The logical question is now what does the council have to say that is relevant to the matter? If racism and harassment was so out of control as the RMA report said, why did the SBI not deliver on it? What about the "Black Book"? Dies the city council and the city have a huge problem on its hands of its own creation? People have been asking why David Wray didn't sue the city, if he was innocent. Now that the dust has settled, we may find out.
Posted on September 18, 2007 11:27 PM
I doubt the dust has settled, but what else is coming I don't know.
The city is trying very hard to show that Wray was treated fairly, but that will be difficult to sustain if the SBI didn't find evidence of wrongdoing by the former chief.
But maybe it did. If so, the city certainly will release that information.
Posted on September 19, 2007 9:02 AM
So it appears that no illegal acts were committed by former Chief Wray which pretty much indicates that the N&R and Lorraine Ahearn destroyed the career and reputation of a fine man who did nothing wrong.
Kudos to your newspaper for it's community service.
*Tongue firmly planted in cheek*
Posted on September 19, 2007 11:17 AM
The N&R didn't force Wray to resign. And, to make a general statement, people can be fired for less than illegal activities.
In this case, I hope we'll find out a lot more about what involvement, if any, Wray had in any allegedly illegal activities.
Posted on September 19, 2007 12:00 PM
Doug,
It seems clear with today's information that Wray "resigned" knowing that the decision had been made to terminate him. This makes things more interesting. Why was Johnson recording the conversation? Did Wray know it was being recorded? Of course, Johnson acted like a "professional", he knew there was a recording being made.
If it finally comes out that Wray was railroaded out by Johnson and Miles, it will be clear that the News-Record and Lorraine Ahern were willing participants in the process. All one has to do is read the reportage on it.
Yes, people can be fired for less than illegal activities. They can be fired because their boss wanted them out. Ever hear of organizational politics? The question is was it a lawful termination process and is it possible that Wray may be able to proceed with unlawful firing proceedings now that no illegal activities has been found.
Posted on September 19, 2007 2:18 PM
I don't know who might be able to proceed with what sort of legal contention. We'll have to wait and see.
Posted on September 19, 2007 2:40 PM
Ya think that Mitch is sweating .45 caliber-size bullets these days? He's getting the city into a huge financial problem, as lawsuits are going to be coming from every direction. They've already started from the black officers. Will anyone on the city council hold him accountable for it? and, Mitch and Linda thought that this was going to go away quietly.
Posted on September 20, 2007 12:53 AM
I an only say that although I was born and raised in Greensboro I am thankful that I no longer reside there.
Fred Stanley
Posted on October 1, 2007 6:46 AM
I an only say that although I was born and raised in Greensboro I am thankful that I no longer reside there.
Fred Stanley
Posted on October 1, 2007 6:46 AM