Who is Justine Jones? NC town's ENTIRE police dept resigns over 'hostile' Black town manager
A small North Carolina police department's entire staff abruptly resigned, citing a "hostile" work environment created by the town's newly elected manager. The mass exodus occurred on Wednesday, July 20, when five cops, including the force's 20-year chief, handed in their resignation letters to the town manager and city council. The decision left Kenly, a town of about 2,000 people, with only three part-time officers to man the dwindling force.
Even before the resignations, the department was understaffed, with five officers instead of the usual eight, according to the cops - one of several complaints raised in the letter. Two town clerks joined them in accusing the new manager, a progressive Black woman who had unsuccessfully sued her previous employer for gender and racial discrimination. Those allegations were made after she had been fired, and her suit was later dismissed, WRAL reported.
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Justine Jones, the manager, was hired last month, nearly eight years after she was fired, which the town touted in a press release at the time. Kenly Police Chief Josh Gibson, on the other hand, was not as enthusiastic when he and six other city workers handed in their two-week notices to Jones on Wednesday, July 20.
''In my 21 years at the Kenly Police Department we have seen ups and downs," Gibson wrote, addressing the note to both Jones and the town's city council. "But, especially in the last three years, we have made substantial progress that we had hoped to continue.'' He went on, "However, due to the hostile work environment now present in the Town of Kenly, I do not believe progress is possible. I am thankful to this community for having me as the longest-running chief in Johnston County. I will truly miss them".
Shortly after sending the note, Gibson announced his intention to leave the force on Facebook, saying he had no idea what lay ahead for him after he leaves his long-standing position in early August. ''I have put in my 2 weeks notice along with the whole police dept. with the town of Kenly after 21 years of service,'' he wrote. "The new manager has created an environment I do not feel we can perform our duties and services to the community. I do not know what is next for me. I am letting the lord lead the way".
Gibson tagged county clerks Christy Thomas and Sharon Evans, who both stated in letters that they were leaving their positions due to the stress that Jones brings. Austin Hills, Jason Tedder, GW Strong, and Darren K Pate all echoed their superior's statements, saying they were tired of the work environment Jones had created since she took office less than two months ago. Gibson has stated that if Jones is removed from her position, he would consider returning to the police force.
Who is Justine Jones?
Jones, a middle-aged Black woman, filed a lawsuit against her former employer, Richland County, South Carolina, for gender and racial discrimination after being fired. According to the lawsuit, she worked as a manager of research and an assistant director. Jones, a middle-aged Black woman, filed a lawsuit against her former employer, Richland County, South Carolina, for gender and racial discrimination after being fired. According to the lawsuit, she worked as a manager of research and an assistant director.
Jones was fired on March 30, 2015 - months before the suit was filed - and the lawsuit was dismissed later that year. Court records do not reveal on what grounds the case was dismissed. Jones was selected by the Kenly town council after a ''nationwide search'' of 30 candidates, officials said in a press release last month. She's worked in public service for the past 16 years, all in local governments, in Minnesota, Virginia, South Carolina, and now North Carolina.
After being fired from her job in Richland County, she worked at her own consulting company before being enlisted for her current position early last month. In an interview with The News & Observer, the town's attorney, Chip Hewett, said the resignations of Gibson, Thomas, and Evans were ''unexpected.''