The Rhino Times reported yesterday about an announcement by Greensboro Police Chief John Thompson. He said the city planned to appeal the judge’s decision to release police body cam video in connection with the violent incident at the city manager’s home.
During recent years, the person filling the position of police chief in the city of Greensboro has become somewhat of a pathetic figure. And this applies to Thompson as well as his most recent predecessors. They have become but mere cogs in the city’s corrupt machine politics.
In this instance, there is no hesitation to create the appearance of covering for his boss. It is, after all, what is expected of him. Who knows what would happen if he did not take this action?
I would prefer to have a police chief who feels free to do the right thing, boldly, in compliance with the law.
I guess everybody has a boss , at least public servants. I would like to see what would happen to Chief Thompson if he didn’t do what he was told in the instant matter. I suppose he would be fired and could appeal and/or sue .
I wonder how this situation would be handled say in Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham or Winston-Salem.
I don’t know how these other cities would have handled this, Fred.
Given Jaycee’s comment, I don’t know whether the city manager resigned under pressure from the City Council. That seems unlikely, at least to me. Instead, I think he wanted to avoid the bodycam footage going out publicly.
The machine would have made Thompson’s life miserable had he not complied, and he would have been forced out.
“GREENSBORO, N.C. — Greensboro City Manager, Taiwo Jaiyeoba resigned as city manager Tuesday, according to the city council who accepted his resignation.”
https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/greensboro-city-manager-resigns-taiwo-jaiyeoba/83-05eede31-7654-4033-8355-23787e9e79c7
Wow, JayCee, I learned about it from you first. That was unexpected.
I suppose the police union and the Rhino were on the right track when they pursued this matter.
Fred, never forget the example of Chief David Wray–you gotta go along to get along.
JayCee, I was also tempted to offer the example of David Wray, which Fred remembers all too well.
I posted this on an earlier discussion of this issue, but I’ll repeat:
From the Greensboro PD code of ethics:
https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=28949
“I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions…I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor…”
At issue here: “…without…favor…”
Chief Thompson should follow the City Manager right out the door.
Great points, JayCee.
I am still trying to figure out what happened. The Rhino is making it sound like a forced resignation, and that the City Council was getting ready to fire him. But the reporting is not definitive. My question, if that were the case, is what their justification would be for pushing him out after having openly supported him. Was it the video content? Was it a confession on his part? Was it the attempt to appeal the court’s decision to release the video to the public? What’s going on here?