Some thoughts about Memogate
Last week, several people (including some City Council members) have asked for my take on this thing with the memo. That's getting into dangerous territory. But I'm compelled to say a few things just to clear the air, and because I believe people are missing the larger point.
First off, I am not easily manipulated. I say that not to be arrogant, but to dispel any misconception that my thick Wilkes County accent indicates some kind of wide-eyed, Gomer-esqe gullability. I've been a reporter for almost 16 years. I know when I'm being played. If I felt as though someone on either side of this debacle were lying to me or manipulating me, then I would communicate that to readers of the News & Record.
Second: Representatives of public bodies, including those at Greensboro City Hall, sometimes look for an "out" when it comes to fulfilling public records requests. Imagine, if you will, how simple it would have been for someone at City Hall to call and say, "Margaret, we don't know what memo you're talking about. Could you be more specific?" No one did. I have no way of knowing if someone thought there was something to hide. But I do know that some government officials see public records requests as adversarial, and they're not going to do anything to make getting those documents easier. That's not unique to Greensboro city government. Citizens across the country have this problem when they make public records requests.
I'll give you an example. Last week, I needed to get some public information (age, salary, title, job status, etc) about a city employee. I called the city's communications department and gave my request verbally. I'm not going to use the employee's actual name, but here's essentially what happened: I asked for information on Margaret Moffett (my maiden name serves this purpose well). The communications employee evidently thought I said Mossett, even though I spelled the name. A day later, I got an e-mail that says, "We don't have a Margaret Mossett on the city payroll (or words to that effect)." Now, it would have been logical for someone at City Hall to say, "Hmmm. I wonder if she meant 'Moffett,' because we do have a 'Margaret Moffett' on the payroll." But instead, the person answered me literally: We can't give you that information because it doesn't exist. That's what the public faces every single day.
I don't know the reasoning behind the inability to produce the memo. It is, however, indicative of a culture of evasion at City Hall (though I should add that Mitchell Johnson is among the most accessible to me and does return my calls).
I find lack of cooperation by the people's representatives as chilling as lying and manipulation.
Comments (14)
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I agree completely. I am being asked to surrender my basic rationality. I just commented on Hogg's that the whole thing could been cleared up in a morning with a call or two, were it not for the culture of obstruction and secrecy. The burden of proof in this case absolutely lies with the city.
Posted on February 10, 2008 9:40 PM
The mentality seems to be not "let's do everything we can to release this", but "call the lawyers and see if there is a legal excuse we can use not to release it."
Given what is known about the whole Wray affair at this point, it's not surprising that they don't want to release this information.
Posted on February 10, 2008 9:49 PM
BINGO....
And it only gets worse as more people attempt to find the truth. It was a small issue that has turned into a cancer.
Posted on February 10, 2008 10:49 PM
Yes, all the good Watergate analogies apply. Like I posted on my site, it's time for Goldwater to pay a visit to Nixon and tell him he no longer has any support.
Posted on February 10, 2008 11:53 PM
Greensboro, NC — A Greensboro police investigation challenges the former chief’s explanation for the infamous “black book.”
City Manager Mitchell Johnson claims the special intelligence division used the book to conduct bogus investigations of black officers. He says it contained photos of 19 black officers and nearly a hundred other black males.
Chief Wray says the book was used to investigate a sexual assault allegation against an officer.
But Interim Chief Tim Bellamy says detectives haven’t found any documentation of the incident.
“We checked that system and no where can we find a report that fits the nature of what we’ve been investigating involving a police officer committing a sexual offense against a suspect,” Bellamy said.
WFMY News 2
Posted on February 11, 2008 12:16 AM
Greensboro, NC — A Greensboro police investigation challenges the former chief’s explanation for the infamous “black book.”
City Manager Mitchell Johnson claims the special intelligence division used the book to conduct bogus investigations of black officers. He says it contained photos of 19 black officers and nearly a hundred other black males.
Chief Wray says the book was used to investigate a sexual assault allegation against an officer.
But Interim Chief Tim Bellamy says detectives haven’t found any documentation of the incident.
“We checked that system and no where can we find a report that fits the nature of what we’ve been investigating involving a police officer committing a sexual offense against a suspect,” Bellamy said.
WFMY News 2
Posted on February 11, 2008 12:16 AM
Greensboro, NC — A Greensboro police investigation challenges the former chief’s explanation for the infamous “black book.”
City Manager Mitchell Johnson claims the special intelligence division used the book to conduct bogus investigations of black officers. He says it contained photos of 19 black officers and nearly a hundred other black males.
Chief Wray says the book was used to investigate a sexual assault allegation against an officer.
But Interim Chief Tim Bellamy says detectives haven’t found any documentation of the incident.
“We checked that system and no where can we find a report that fits the nature of what we’ve been investigating involving a police officer committing a sexual offense against a suspect,” Bellamy said.
WFMY News 2
Posted on February 11, 2008 12:16 AM
Did Bellamy find any evidence that the black book was shown to prostitutes and drug dealers across the county to get information on unlawful activities committed by police officers? That is what RMA said in its report about the how the black book was used. So, where's the information that supports that statement.
Posted on February 11, 2008 12:36 AM
Keep up the good work, Margaret. You are doing a fine job with this story. Be a bulldog and don't let go.
Posted on February 11, 2008 12:41 AM
Margaret I commend you for your ingegrity and sense of fairness in your news columns. Keep up the good work.
Posted on February 11, 2008 10:26 AM
"I find lack of cooperation by the people's representatives as chilling as lying and manipulation."
It's called the Sin of Omission and is considered to be just as great as sin as are lying, cheating, stealing or murder.
I find it interesting that people involved in committing this sin of omission will be conducting a town hall meeting in a downtown church tonight.
Posted on February 11, 2008 2:11 PM
This supposed secrecy is most likely a symptom of having to react constantly to public and media cynicism. It's the nature of public administration. Two-thirds the pay and twice the scrutiny.
Posted on February 11, 2008 7:39 PM
Where is the leadership in this city ? The Greensboro Police Dept matters, and there are several, have gone on far too long. Common sense and reason has taken a back seat to politics, and that is sad for this once great city.
Posted on February 12, 2008 8:20 AM
Keep up the good fight, Margaret. I'm pleased to see reporters like you coming out from behind the curtain to make points exactly like this one about the important work we do.
John C.
Posted on February 12, 2008 3:29 PM