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Former Greensboro police chief sues over civil rights
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Published: January 5, 2009
GREENSBORO
The former Greensboro police chief said his civil rights were violated when he was forced out of office in 2006, according to a complaint filed Friday in Guilford County Superior Court.
The News & Record of Greensboro reported Monday that former chief David Wray said in the lawsuit that he was pushed out because he is white. Wray resigned in 2006.
Wray is claiming damages in excess of $10,000 for loss of compensation, pain and suffering. He is also asking the city to cover legal expenses from lawsuits brought by two police officers.
The lawsuit also names city manager Mitchell Johnson, who said he hasn't seen the lawsuit and couldn't talk about it. But Mitchell said he followed the city's personnel policy in handling Wray.
"We expect to get his legal bills paid, and we expect to get him reimbursed for damages," said Ken Keller, Wray's attorney.
Wray left the city about three years ago after allegations arose of racial profiling in the police department. The lawsuit said Johnson tried to discredit Wray as a racist.
Wray, who now lives in Tennessee, and City Attorney Terry Wood could not be reached for comment.
Wray claims in the lawsuit that the city manager deliberately made working conditions intolerable, spreading false information about him and directing investigations to justify Wray's termination. The suit also mentions the city manager making an issue of "the black book." The book, which included photos of black officers, was alleged to have been used to get criminals to give false information about black police officers. Wray has said the photo book was used to investigate an alleged sexual assault.
Johnson said recently there was no proof the black book was used inappropriately.
The suit also claims Wray was discriminated against because of his race and that his civil rights were violated to appease a segment of the black community. The two police chiefs before Wray were black.
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