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2005

June 17: Chief David Wray places Lt. James Hinson on paid administrative leave. Hinson had found a tracking device on his police cruiser and accused the department's Special Intelligence Section of targeting him and other black officers. Wray holds a news conference clearing the department's Special Intelligence Section of misconduct.

Summer: Mitchell Johnson, then deputy city manager, says police department employees and officers from outside law enforcement agencies started expressing concerns about actions within the department.

Early autumn: Johnson, now interim city manager, orders a review of allegations against Special Intelligence and hires a consultant to help with the investigation.

November/December: Two high-ranking officers in the department, Deputy Chief Randall Brady and Capt. Matt Lojko, retire "immediately after their interview with the consultants," Johnson says.

Dec. 20: Johnson, now city manager, strips Wray of his authority to fire or transfer employees. People interviewed in the investigation expressed "grave concerns" that inappropriate personnel action might be taken by the chief, Johnson says.

Dec. 21: Johnson receives a copy of the investigative report.

2006

Jan. 3: Johnson meets with the team that investigated Special Intelligence.

Jan. 6: Johnson changes the locks on Wray's office doors but says Wray is still chief.

Jan. 7: Wray's attorney, Kenneth Keller, contacts the city to discuss Wray's possible resignation and retirement. Johnson says "our discussions proved fruitless and were concluded."

Jan. 9: Johnson receives a package containing Wray's resignation.

Jan. 10: Johnson holds a news conference and reveals the existence of a "black book" containing the names and photos of at least 19 African American officers.

Jan. 11: Johnson tells the News & Record that Wray told Brady to hide the book in the trunk of his patrol car.

2007

Jan. 8: Application period for Greensboro's police chief position ends; 63 people applied.

Late January: Assistant Chief Craig Hartley announces he's taking a position in Virginia.

Feb. 7: A federal judge rules the city owes Brady his full retirement benefits. The city later asks the case to be reheard.

Feb. 21: The City Council releases tapes and transcripts related to multiple investigations of the Greensboro Police Department.

March 22: Tim Bellamy's appointment as the new police chief is announced.

Sept. 17: A grand jury indicts officer Scott E. Sanders and Sgt. William Thomas Fox, members of the defunct Special Intelligence Section, on charges of obstruction, with Sanders facing an additional charge of illegally accessing government computers. Mayor Keith Holliday calls a news conference, saying the indictments are "consistent with the environment described by both black and white officers of differing ranks ... in late 2005."

Source: News & Record Archive