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The City Council will meet in closed session Friday to find out why Interim City Manager Bob Morgan decided to reinstate police officer A. J. Blake.

Blake was charged with two counts of assault after having a fight with his girlfriend at a party earlier this year. He was convicted in March, but was found not guilty by a jury when he appealed. Blake will return to work, with a demotion, this week.

The council meeting was called by Mayor Yvonne Johnson at the urging of Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw, who was disturbed to hear he got his job back.

Blake had been recommended for termination by Police Chief Tim Bellamy. Morgan overruled that decision.

“It looks like Tim Bellamy has no control over the police department. He has no credibility. The rug has been pulled out from under him on this decision,” she said.

Morgan declined to say why he opted to keep Blake on the job. But Morgan made his decision after Blake was found not guilty of the charges on appeal; Bellamy made his decision before the Blake’s appeal.

Rakestraw and another council member said they did not know Blake had been acquitted. ( Must not have been reading Greensboro's various print publications.) In the case of another officer, Scott Sanders, Rakestraw has argued for him to be reinstated and given back pay after his acquittal on criminal charges.

It’s unclear what City Council members hope to accomplish at the meeting Friday. By Greensboro policy, the city manager has the final word on an employee discipline case of this sort.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, District 1 candidate Ben Holder called for the city to investigate a claim by Blake would not be able to work with the gang officers upon being reinstated. He asked for the City Council to clear up lingering questions about the unit.