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GREENSBORO - Former police Chief David Wray's news conference Wednesday did nothing to change the minds of several City Council members who said Thursday they still support City Manager Mitchell Johnson.

Wray and the police department's Special Intelligence section came under fire after a black lieutenant claimed he was being followed. Lt. James Hinson also said African American officers were being targeted. The city hired an outside firm to investigate, and Wray resigned Jan. 9. He released one statement on Jan. 11, but Wednesday was his first public appearance.

Wray said Wednesday he had a point-by-point rebuttal to the city's reports. He also told reporters that he changed the findings this fall of an Internal Affairs investigation that cleared Hinson of wrongdoing because Wray believed the report's conclusions were incorrect. Wray also said City Attorney Linda Miles agreed that the memo "did not square with the preponderance of known facts."

Miles responded Thursday.

"Under the Personnel Privacy Act, I cannot comment on the specifics of the Wray or Hinson case other than what was released by (City) Council," Miles said. "However, the facts speak for themselves. I advise the city manager on all personnel decisions and Hinson is back at work."

Six council members reached Thursday expressed confidence in Johnson's handling of the situation.

Councilwoman Florence Gatten put little stock in Wray's explanation Wednesday.

"It's a pathetic attempt to explain illegal actions," Gatten said.

Neither Hinson nor Wray have been charged with any crime.

The FBI said last Friday they will investigate the department.

Mayor Keith Holliday reiterated Thursday that he believes Johnson has done an excellent job handling the situation and noted Johnson made his decisions based on more information than has been released to the public.

"I was slightly surprised (Wray) went into some of the details he did because it's still a potential personnel matter," Holliday said. "I'll let the lawyers decide how good an idea that was."

Wray said Wednesday there was nothing improper about a "black book" that included photos of 19 city police officers. He said it was compiled after a woman complained she was groped by an unidentified black police officer.

"A lot of what (Wray) said is what Mitch said," Councilwoman Sandra Anderson said. "I don't think there was a lot of new information there."

Councilman Mike Barber said it was unfortunate that Wray didn't begin attempting to explain his actions until after his resignation. "Mitchell can't be faulted for proceeding as he proceeded," Barber said.

Barber said he was alarmed to hear Wray say during his news conference that police and city legal counsel were "ratifying the ongoing operations of Chief Wray's office," and that he's called Miles' office seeking an explanation.

Based on the briefings he's received on the situation, Barber added, "I have seen no evidence of racism and nothing to suggest the FBI evaluation is anything but targeted to a few people and not our fine city police department."

He said he still believed Wray is a good man.

After hearing Wray's explanation, Councilman Tom Phillips said, "I stick by what the city manager is saying. I just wish we were in a position to release more information. ... The former chief is very good at choosing his words." Phillips declined to elaborate.

Councilwoman Goldie Wells said that based on media accounts of Wray's news conference, "I still have confidence in what the manager did."

Staff writer Eric J.S. Townsend contributed to this story.

Contact Eric Swensen at 373-7351 or eswensen@news-record.com