WADESBORO, NC - Since the new town manager was hired in June, several police officers have up and left the police department, citing the town manager as the main reason for leaving.
According to WCNC, residents in Wadesboro are concerned after at least three police officers left the small town's department in the past week alone. One of the officers, Adrian Robson, said that he left the department due to Wadesboro town leadership. Robson had been with the force for the last two years. He said, "Mr. Wiley Ross came into the township with more of what Mr. Ross wants and not with what the township needs."
Robson said that many of the officers who have left the department have done so because of Ross. He said, "The police officers, I've spoken with many of them, they are feeling demoralized. They feel frustrated since the new city manager has taken over."
An individual who works for the town and who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to fear of backlash from Ross, said that two officers quit on Thursday, August 29th, and a third on Friday, August 30th. A picture provided to WCNC allegedly shows Ross driving a city police car to multiple locations including a Food Lion grocery store and an AT&T store. Robson said, "If I were to drive a police vehicle and I was a civilian in a civilian position, that seems to me that I'd be impersonating a police officer."
When asked questions, Ross would not answer them and reportedly hung up the phone after promising he would provide answers to those questions posed by WCNC on Tuesday, September 3rd. According to the Anson Record, Ross is a "public service professional coming to Wadesboro with nearly 30 years of public and private sector experience." Ross holds a Master's in Public Administration from Northern Kentucky University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Union Institute and University of Cincinnati.
Ross reportedly has extensive government experience with the City of Charlotte and the City of Cincinnati including "law enforcement, diversity and inclusion, human resource management, EEO programs and investigations, process improvement, performance evaluations, interpretation of city policies and procedures, and project management and strategic planning."
In July, shortly after being hired, Ross held a meet and greet town hall to discuss the ongoing issues in the Wadesboro community. Some of the issues that were mentioned by residents was their concern over crime. Regarding communication, some in the crowd stated their dismay at finding the lights of Wadesboro Park turned off before it gets dark outside, expressing anxiety that it may lead to an increase in crime at the park. Some said that they "do not feel safe walking in the dark."
Ross said, "We will look into that, you should be able to use your park safely when it's open." Sheriff Scott Howell said, "There are people in power that do not want to be above a tier one county ... it makes it easier to get grant money that ends up going to them and not the community. The $11 million we got from the state was not asked for, it was already in the budget." Speaking more broadly at the meeting, Ross said, "We will have to work together as a community to address these issues."
According to WCNC, residents in Wadesboro are concerned after at least three police officers left the small town's department in the past week alone. One of the officers, Adrian Robson, said that he left the department due to Wadesboro town leadership. Robson had been with the force for the last two years. He said, "Mr. Wiley Ross came into the township with more of what Mr. Ross wants and not with what the township needs."
Robson said that many of the officers who have left the department have done so because of Ross. He said, "The police officers, I've spoken with many of them, they are feeling demoralized. They feel frustrated since the new city manager has taken over."
An individual who works for the town and who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to fear of backlash from Ross, said that two officers quit on Thursday, August 29th, and a third on Friday, August 30th. A picture provided to WCNC allegedly shows Ross driving a city police car to multiple locations including a Food Lion grocery store and an AT&T store. Robson said, "If I were to drive a police vehicle and I was a civilian in a civilian position, that seems to me that I'd be impersonating a police officer."
When asked questions, Ross would not answer them and reportedly hung up the phone after promising he would provide answers to those questions posed by WCNC on Tuesday, September 3rd. According to the Anson Record, Ross is a "public service professional coming to Wadesboro with nearly 30 years of public and private sector experience." Ross holds a Master's in Public Administration from Northern Kentucky University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Union Institute and University of Cincinnati.
Ross reportedly has extensive government experience with the City of Charlotte and the City of Cincinnati including "law enforcement, diversity and inclusion, human resource management, EEO programs and investigations, process improvement, performance evaluations, interpretation of city policies and procedures, and project management and strategic planning."
In July, shortly after being hired, Ross held a meet and greet town hall to discuss the ongoing issues in the Wadesboro community. Some of the issues that were mentioned by residents was their concern over crime. Regarding communication, some in the crowd stated their dismay at finding the lights of Wadesboro Park turned off before it gets dark outside, expressing anxiety that it may lead to an increase in crime at the park. Some said that they "do not feel safe walking in the dark."
Ross said, "We will look into that, you should be able to use your park safely when it's open." Sheriff Scott Howell said, "There are people in power that do not want to be above a tier one county ... it makes it easier to get grant money that ends up going to them and not the community. The $11 million we got from the state was not asked for, it was already in the budget." Speaking more broadly at the meeting, Ross said, "We will have to work together as a community to address these issues."
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Comments
2024-09-06T10:24-0400 | Comment by: Raconteur
"Ross reportedly has extensive government experience with the City of Charlotte and the City of Cincinnati including "law enforcement, diversity and inclusion, human resource management, EEO programs and ..." Just what experience at what rank, in Charlotte and Cincinnati? I see a DEI hire who doesn't mind doing "rules for thee, not for me." Even so I don't see any substantial grievances, other than driving a cop car. What are the real reasons that the cops are leaving?