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Despite outrage, Kenly Council stands by Justine Jones after entire police force resigns

'We just want to make sure that the process is fair, and this ultimatum of her versus him as a police chief is not a good process,' pointed out one resident

An entire police department in North Carolina resigned on July 20 after the hiring of a new town manager, Justine Jones. Now the latest reports suggest that the Kenly Town Council called for a meeting on the night of July 22, which saw about 50 residents gathering at Kenly Town Hall. Several supported Jones at the meeting, arguing she never got a chance to build relationships with the people of the town.

The official announcement of the mass resignation was made in a Facebook post by Kenly Police Chief Josh Gibson, in which he mentioned that he had submitted his two weeks' notice alongside the entire department, along with assistant town manager Sharon Evans and utility clerk Christy Jones. He wrote, “I have put in my 2 weeks notice along with the whole police dept. Sharon Evans and Christy Thomas with the town of kenly after 21 years of service... 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.. I have loved this community.. it has become family and one of my greatest honors to serve.. God bless you all in Kenly....”

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Meanwhile, WRAL obtained a copy of the resignation letter, which caused some outrage, while many came in support of Jones. At the meeting, one of the residents, Denise Bennett, was quoted as asking by The News&Observer, “One of my questions is, what happened between May and July?" "It takes time when you get a new boss,” she said, pointing out Justine had only started the job on June 2. “We just want to make sure that the process is fair, and this ultimatum of her versus him as a police chief is not a good process.”

Another resident Cynthia Kirby tagged the resignation as a racial issue. She said, “They don’t want to be led by anybody Black; that’s Kenly. They’re always harassing Black people. It’s racial. I hope this doesn’t end in her quitting because that’s not right. You can’t judge anybody because they make you do your job.”

Twitterati come forward to support Jones 

Netizens, too, came forward to support Jones after the mass resignation. One user wrote, "I will come work for Justine Jones in Kenly, NC. Don’t let them racist run you out…. We will just all move to Kenly… looking for a house there rn..#Kenly #supportjustine #justine" While another wrote, "I hope the town of #Kenly NC supports Justine Jones and ideas this opportunity to show how life without police could work. I know it's not that easy, better of systemic shit, but still."