Entire North Carolina Town’s Police Department Resigns After New Manager Is Hired

A stock photo of a police car. Holly Kellum/File Photo/Epoch Times

The entire police department of a North Carolina town resigned on Friday after a new town manager was hired, according to the former police chief.

Kenly Police Chief Josh Gibson, as well as four other full-time officers, the town clerk, and a utilities clerk, resigned, according to letter (pdf) that were sent to the town’s council and new town manager Justine Jones. Gibson blamed what he described as a “hostile work environment” for the mass exodus.

Gibson confirmed to WAVY-TV and on Facebook that the town’s entire police force resigned. Local media reported that the town is left with three part-time officers now.

“I have put in my 2 weeks notice along with the whole police dept., Sharon Evans, and Christy Thomas with the town of kenly after 21 years of service,” Gibson wrote on Facebook on July 20. “The new manager has created an environment I do not feel we can perform our duties and services to the community.”

“In my 21 years at the Kenly Police Department, we have seen ups and downs. But, especially in the last 3 years, we have made substantial progress that we had hoped to continue. However, due to the hostile work environment now present in the Town of Kenly, I do not believe progress is possible,” Gibson wrote in his letter.

Gibson told WCNC-TV that he can’t go into more details and said that lawyers are involved. The department, he said, is supposed to have eight full-time officers but has had only five.

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office told WRAL that deputies will handle policing in the town.

“We’re stepping up and stepping out, and as Johnston County and the sheriff’s office, we’re going to be there for our people and the citizens. They may be the citizens of the town of Kenly, but they’re still citizens of the county of Johnston, also,” Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said.

Jones was just hired as the Kenly town manager in June, according to the Town of Kenly in a news release reported by local media.

“Jones has dedicated her career to public service over the last 16 years during which she worked in progressively responsible positions with local governments in Minnesota, Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina,” the statement said. “She began her municipal career as the Executive Assistant to the City Manager and National Urban Fellow in the City of Norfolk, Virginia.”

Jones declined an interview with WRAL and said that she was “not at liberty to talk because of a personnel matter.”

Officials told CBS17 that the Kenly Town Council will hold an emergency meeting Friday.

The Epoch Times has contacted the town for comment.