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GREENSBORO - Facing pressure from within his own department, Greensboro police Chief David Wray has ruled out asking an outside agency to probe alleged misconduct by a covert unit the ranks have dubbed the "secret police."

But Wray also said Wednesday that he would consider asking for an independent review of how the intelligence unit in his department is organized and whether its structure meets national standards.

Allegations of misconduct surfaced last week when the lawyer for Lt. James Hinson revealed the high-profile black officer found a tracking device on his police cruiser.

Wray confirmed he authorized surveillance to be done by a retired detective the department recently hired back.

Though the revelation of the "bird-dog" incident has caused mounting distrust within the agency, the chief emphasized that the department had the right to track the city-owned cruiser.

"If you're doing your job, and you're doing it right, you have nothing to be worried about," Wray said Wednesday.

Hinson, heavily involved in youth programs and community anti-crime initiatives, is president of the local chapter of the black officers' association, the North State Law Enforcement Officers Association, which met behind closed doors this week to discuss the case.

Although Hinson, 37, has so far been the focus, an attorney for the Greensboro Police Officers' Association echoed concerns that discipline for black officers has been more severe than for white officers accused of the same infractions.

Wray, who is white, became chief after two past administrations under black police chiefs - Sylvester Daughtry and Robert White.

The now-controversial Special Intelligence Division is known for its investigations of gang and hate group activities. The division was once under the same chain of command as Internal Affairs.

Under Wray, it has been made into an independent unit reporting directly to Deputy Chief Randall Brady.

"The attention about this (the tracking incident) is a week or so old," he said. "We're in the early stages of finding out what exactly we've got."

What he's got will be known only to Wray and those he asks to help conduct an internal review of misconduct allegations. The chief said he has seen no evidence yet that misconduct has taken place.

North Carolina law protects the records that are key to any investigation of prejudicial treatment, from personnel information to the details of how officers conduct their review.

There may be no way for citizens to gauge for themselves whether unfair treatment is taking place, unless all officers who have been disciplined disclose their own records.

And does that mean the public will have nothing more than his word on the findings of his investigation?

Wray's response was short: "Yes."

Contact Eric J.S. Townsend at 373-7008 or etownsend@news-record.com

Contact Lorraine Ahearn at 373-7334 or lahearn@news-record.com