news-record.com

GREENSBORO - On Jan. 6, 2006 - a Friday - City Manager Mitchell Johnson told former police Chief David Wray that he would be placed on administrative leave at 8:30 a.m. the following Monday.

The conversation was recorded:

Wray: "Let me make sure I understand. Computer access is locked out. Access to the office as well?"

Johnson: "Yes."

Wray: "Is what you are saying? OK."

Johnson: "Now if you have something in your office that you need, I can make a call."

Wray: "Well, I want to return down there when I leave and get anything I need out of there before I go. I'm assuming termination is the route you want to go ... I mean I have an opportunity to get my things ..."

Johnson: "Yes ... yes."

On Tuesday, the City Council voted unanimously to release the transcript and the audio recording of that conversation. State law allows the City Council to release confidential information in the interest of maintaining public confidence.

The city redacted many names in the full conversation to comply with personnel laws.

City leaders, including Mayor Keith Holliday, have complained about media reports that suggest Johnson treated Wray disrespectfully that day. The council released the recording in the hopes of dispelling that.

Council members already had listened to the recording before Tuesday night.

The city's human resources manager, Connie Hammond, was present during the meeting but didn't take part in the discussion.

The board called a special meeting for 9 a.m. Friday, during which members will discuss releasing more information.

Wray resigned in 2006 after allegations that the department's special intelligence unit had targeted black officers for unfair internal investigation. That, coupled with accusations of mismanagement, prompted Johnson to ask the city's legal officer and a private consulting firm to ferret out what, exactly, ailed the department under Wray.

In the recording, Johnson expresses regret over blocking Wray from his office, but said it was a necessary step, given that Johnson said "several people" had warned him about the need to protect records.

"I hate to take this kind of action, but the problem is my trust has been completely shattered by what I have read and what I have been told," Johnson told Wray.

Johnson later said: "Between now and Monday, as far as I'm concerned you are still the chief, but I realize being barred from your office and all that may put you in a position where you feel like you would rather be ... and if you feel like we need to go ahead and start administrative leave today, I can do that."

Wray defended himself repeatedly during the conversation, saying he would be "man enough" to look Johnson in the eye and admit it if he had been lying. Wray said that during the following week, he would be "prepared to answer (questions) and I will take the hits on the things I've done.

"I'm not willing to take hits on things I haven't done. That's as honest as I can be back with you."

He told Johnson: "Now, uh, when I walk out this door, Mitch, even if it is for the last time and I've been here for 25 years with this department and have a couple of years of prior experience, I intend to hold my head high.

"And, uh, my career has been a good one and I've been true to my oath and I've been true on this."

On Tuesday, Councilman Mike Barber tried but failed to convince the council to immediately make public all related information that doesn't compromise personnel law. Only Councilwomen Sandra Anderson Groat and Yvonne Johnson voted in favor of his motion.

Other council members, including Holliday and Councilman Tom Phillips, said they were in favor of releasing all information, but weren't prepared to vote on it until they learned whether it would jeopardize ongoing investigations.

Holliday said a large amount of information about the case hasn't been released.

On Monday, two ex-members of the special intelligence unit were indicted on felony charges, culminating a yearlong investigation into alleged abuses of power.

The suspended officers, Sgt. William "Tom" Fox and Officer Scott E. Sanders, face charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Sanders also is charged with hacking into a computer issued to another local officer by the federal government.

Contact Margaret Moffett Banks at 373-7031 or mbanks@news-record.com