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Why the hell would Bellamy tell you that there is yet ANOTHER memo - but, it's not public? Should he even be discussing the fact that there IS one, but you can't have it?

Am I misinterpreting?

Margaret,

Good to see you last night. Is the N&R asking its legal council for an opinion on the reasons for the denials you've been getting?

MyTwoCents: I don't have an explanation for why that happened.

Roch: I'm trying to get an answer to your question.

If I have this correct the document you are asking for is the record of the assault charge against a Black Police Officer of assault made by a prostitute. This documentation would prove the reason for putting together the photo array that City Hall is calling the "black book" and which was used to prove Wray's racism. If so we were told earlier that the documentation for any such complaint could not be found. \Now Bellamy claims they do have not one but two articles. Boy if you could get your hands on those two it would prove that not only was Mitch and the Legal Department lying but Mitch and the Police Department and current chief of police were lying.

It always struck me that when the dust settled after the fall of the command staff under Wray Bellamy was still the one lone officer left standing tall and clean and self righteous. BB

MyTwoCents,

Damned if they do, damned if they don't aren't they?

The city is criticized for not giving enough information and now for providing more than was asked for.

Phenomenal. If people in Greensboro remembered that for every finger they point at someone four more are pointing back at them, perhaps they would be less quick to judge.

Is this the most interesting event in town people can find to discuss? This is not a city, it is a small gossipy country town full of mean spirited people.

It is ENOUGH with the whole Wray event. What about forgiveness? Everyone claims to love Jesus so much and be so into their church activities but yet scramble to condemn city officials or anyone who has divergent views from theirs about anything.

This incredible intolerance will keep Greensboro forever behind places of comparable size, and at the bottom of the list of places anyone wants to emigrate to.

So keep it up Greensborians with your criticism and hatefulness. Keep a close eye on what kind of pallor you cast on your city by behaving this way.

No, Roch, we have not consulted legal counsel yet over this issue.

Hey Roch, last night you asked the following question: How a public citizen could go about finding out whether or not there was an assault that lead to the creation of that line-up? Bellamy has denied that any record of that assault can be found and you are correct, Bellamy did state that January 27, 2006 on WFMY Channel 2.

But look at what he states in Margaret's response today. Pay attention to dates and what is in existence. This appears to be some of the information you're looking for and I'm sure there is more. I believe the Rhino came out with a copy of a July 8th, 2005 memo. And now Bellamy is also admitting that there is a Jan 10th memo that explains the book? Sounds like Bellamy has been less than truthful with the citizens of Greensboro. Talk about a cover-up!

Banks,

Did you ask him about his previous denial of any reason for the black book during a WFMY interview?

I am curious as to why this incident is still being "investigated" two years later. One would think the "investigation" would be over by now.

Whether this document is a public record or not depends on its purpose when it was created and its use in an investigation.

Even if a record is protected, it can be released in the public interest.

Maybe Mr. Johnson should call the Chief and ask him why the investigation is taking so long.

David -

My point is that there's enough crap to deal with as it is - why would he (Bellamy) need to throw out a teaser like that and say oh, there's another memo too from the same guy, on the same date - and say, by the way - you can't have that either?

Not a damned if they do, damned if they don't scenario imho.

Annie's comment is important.

On January 27, 2006, WFMY reported:

"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.

Now the Chief is saying he has evidence of it that he won't make available. I suppose Chief Bellamy's comments speak for themselves, but, for the record, shouldn't a journalist be asking him if he wants to update his previous claim that he couldn't find any documentation of the incident, especially since the Chief's initial remarks were to refute the legitimacy of the line-up book?

The link to the WFMY story:

Interim Chief: No Evidence Supporting Validity Of "Black Book"

Is Bellamy being truthful? Will he be locked out of his office soon? I agree that to be consistent and in the spirit of getting the truth out, Mitch Johnson should ask Bellamy why he has told two different stories to the public.

You won't find me complaining that a government released too much information. If you do, revoke my license to practice journalism.

Insert joke about Margaret here ____________.

Annie,

On what date did the alleged assault occur?

I don't know, but from attorney Ken Kellers letter to the city council members dated February 8, 2008 the hotel receipts that were in the book should tell.

Roch, the next headline should read "No Evidence of Misuse of "Black Book".

There still is none. Not one shred. Zilch Nada. I'm thinking about offering a reward for any person who can come up with a shred of evidence that the photo lineup/black book was used for an improper purpose.

That evidence is apparently hiding with Osama Bin Laden and Saddam's WMD, the difference being we are more likely to find the latter two than the former.

Banks,

Did you ask him about his previous denial of any reason for the black book during a WFMY interview?

Hey, You ignoring me?

Ben: I swear I wasn't ignoring you or dismissing your question. Sorry I wasn't as responsive as I should have been. These days, I've been getting Troublemaker-level traffic on Scoop, and I'm not catching everything like I should.

The answer to your question now: No, I didn't ask him. I was really focused on that second memo, and wanted to make sure I asked all the right questions about it.

Having said that, it's a legitimate question and I wish I'd thought to ask it.

So, how's that for offering excuses, uh, I mean explanations?

I just need to know exactly why they said things like that at the start of this. There is really no evidence that the black book was shown to anyone other than the one alleged victim.

Also, there was lots of chit chat and rumor pushing going on early as well describing a book with all the black cops, a list being passed around as well as three black books being in circulation.

Ahearn was told about a "List" of black officers being passed around at strip clubs by white cops. This was allegeldy being done so strippers would help the white cops frame black cops. I know Ahearn and another N&R person went to Twiggy's to talk to House but came up empty. I am pretty sure I know who told them about the list.

The rumors surrounding the black book need to be seperated from the facts. First bellamy says there is no reason for the Black Book and there was not a complaint made by a prostitute on a black officer. But now?

To say there was not an investigation is not true. There are numerous documents and pieces of evidence that the police department is aware of. But if you can't get the documents from the city go ask Detective Jon Marsh (GPD vice/narc). He was the one who initiated the complaint that Saunders was assigned to investigate.

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