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GREENSBORO - Former police chief David Wray has sued Greensboro and the city manager for violations of his civil rights.

Wray's lawsuit claims that because he is white, the city discriminated against him by publicly stripping him of his authority and forcing him out of office in 2006, according to a complaint filed Friday in Guilford County Superior Court.

The suit also names City Manger Mitchell Johnson, both in his capacity as city manger and as an individual.

Johnson said Saturday he has not seen Wray's lawsuit and could not comment on it.

"I followed this city's processes and procedures with regard to administration and personnel," he said. "I followed it to a T."

Wray is asking for the city to cover his legal expenses from lawsuits brought by two police officers.

Wray is claiming damages in excess of $10,000 for loss of compensation and pain and suffering.

"We expect to get his legal bills paid, and we expect to get him reimbursed for damages," Wray's attorney Ken Keller said.

Wray, who now lives in Tennessee, and City Attorney Terry Wood could not be reached for comment.

The lawsuit comes a few days shy of the three-year anniversary of Wray's resignation.

The former police chief left amid controversy over allegations of internal racial profiling in the Greensboro Police Department.

In the suit, Wray claims the city manager deliberately made working conditions intolerable, communicated inaccurate information about him, and directed investigations to justify his termination.

The suit says the city manager tried to discredit Wray as a racist by making an issue of the "black book."

In 2005, there were allegations that a black book was used to entice criminals to give false information about black police officers.

Wray has said the photo array, which contained photos of black police officers, was used to investigate an alleged sexual assault. The city manager recently said the city could not prove the black book was used inappropriately.

The suit also claims Mitchell Johnson discriminated against Wray based on his race and violated his civil rights in an effort to appease a segment of the African American community.

The lawsuit points out that the two police chiefs before Wray were both African American.

"We think that the facts speak for themselves," Keller said.

Mayor Yvonne Johnson and other city leaders denied that there was any pressure from the African American community to force Wray out.

"I believe the right decisions were made, and I stand behind the city manager," former City Council member Tom Phillips said Saturday.

Dianne Munden, vice chairwoman of the George C. Simkins Memorial Political Action Committee, a political institution in Greensboro's African American community, said the committee played no role in what happened to Wray.

"We had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with Wray and the whole situation of him losing his job," Munden said Saturday.

Earlier this year, Wray's attorneys unsuccessfully attempted to persuade the city that he should be provided legal counsel for his legal defense in cases brought by police officers James Hinson and Julius Fulmore. Both officers were investigated by the Greensboro Police Department.

"A majority (of the City Council) didn't believe we had any liability for what happened, for what he (Wray) did," Yvonne Johnson said Saturday. "He chose to resign."

Keller declined to say how much compensation he believes Wray is due. But he said the city recently returned the former chief's gun and badge.

"I thought it was a nice gesture," Keller said. "Very appropriate."

Staff writer Tiffany S. Jones contributed to this report.

Contact Amanda Lehmertat 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com