City Drafts Plan to Help Unify the APD
ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- It was packed at the City Council meeting Tuesday night -- both officers and their family members wanted to see how the City would address the recently exposed issues with the Asheville Police Chief. Both sides squared off, including those who were in support of Chief William Anderson and the 44 officers who signed a petition calling for his resignation. City officials supported Chief Anderson, despite problems exposed in recent weeks. City Manager Gary Jackson announced he's addressing the situation by forming a team of city workers along with an outside consultant to unify the APD, and council members supported the plan. However, Councilman Cecil Bothwell once again lashed out at the media. "Frankly, I think the press has been wildly irresponsible in recent months reporting allegations as if they were true," Bothwell said during the meeting. John Midgette, the state's executive director of the Police Benevolence Association had strong words for the city. "The officers are being obstructed from properly performing their sworn duties under state law and a retaliatory, hostile work environment has been created in that process," Midgette said. The PBA wants a full scale investigation into Chief Anderson and say they suspect he may have conducted criminal misconduct by obstructing justice, misleading the public and by simply not having radar guns properly certified. "Those actions - if true - could lead to the de-certification of police officers, the police chief or a complete shutdown of the police department in their use of those radars in enforcing the law," Midgette said. Chief Anderson left before the meeting was over. Even though the PBA wants him investigated by outside law enforcement, right now the city manager Gary Jackson is sticking with his plan. "We're open to examine other suggestions," Jackson said. "I would have to know more about it at this point I'm not clear what the purpose is or what the elements would be." The PBA says the council could also have the city's civil services board investigate, but either way want to be involved. To read the letter the PBA sent to Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, click here Related Links: Asheville Officer Exposes New Problems with Police Evidence Room Police Chief Reprimand Has City of Asheville Accused of Violating Federal Laws Letter Sent to Mayor Urging Investigation into APD Chief Dozens of APD Officers Call for Chief's Resignation News 13 Investigates Exposes Expired APD Radar Guns APD Officers Working Longer Hours, More Overtime Possible Officer Shortage at APD _______________ Follow WLOS on social media: WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: / news13 WLOS ABC 13 News on Twitter: / wlos_13 WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: / wlos_13 Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Cha... Listen to AnchorMOMS, the Podcast: https://wlos.com/news/anchormoms/anch... Watch more top local news stories: • Western Loses At ETSU, Highlights and more For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit http://www.wlos.com Watch our live newscasts and other live video at https://wlos.com/watch Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340 WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
