The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is in the process of investigating activities at the Hamlet Police Department at the request of the District Attorney’s office.
When asked Thursday afternoon if the SBI was in the process of investigating issues concerning the recent termination of Police Chief John Haywood, Richmond County District Attorney Reece Saunders said, “I’ve requested an SBI investigation into the activity concerning the Hamlet Police Department.”
Saunders said he made the request on July 31, and that the investigation was currently “ongoing.”
Haywood was fired on Sept. 7 for “failure in performance of duties” and “misuse and gross negligence in the handling of city funds and property,” according to Hamlet City Manager Marchell David.
According to a statement released by David to the Daily Journal, after a written request was submitted Tuesday, “The chief’s approval of the disposition of city property (seized vehicles). The failure to keep accurate records of financial transactions in the police department. The failure to run all financial matters through the proper channels,” were cited as the “events that lead up to the dismissal.”
Haywood spoke with the Daily Journal on Thursday and said the situation began in January when the police department was cleaning up its firing range and needed to get rid of seized vehicles, some of which were over 20 years old. The cars were taken to be salvaged per court order, and Officer Michael Veach collected the funds, he said.
“We got paid for the vehicles and Veach put the money in his office,” said Haywood on Thursday. “I never knew how much money it was.”
While Haywood said the money was only spent on departmental improvements, he admitted he didn’t go through the appropriate channels.
“We failed to deem the stuff surplus through city council,” he said. “So when an accountant would come to audit, there would have been nothing about that money or where it came from. But there was no money missing. We have all the receipts. The city manager called the district attorney’s office and requested that SBI investigate Michael Veach.”
“One kicker was that out of these cars turned in, Veach bought an old truck and got a bill of sale for $405, the scrap price,” continued Haywood. “He has one like it and wanted it for parts. He was let go for three different things; a combination of administrative mistakes. I failed to supervise the officers. I failed to make sure they had done the right thing. It’s all administrative though — it’s not criminal.”
Repeated calls made by the Daily Journal to Veach, including calls Thursday, were not returned.
Haywood said that when he was approached by the city manager, she had the termination papers already drafted. Upon discussing the matter further, David extended him the opportunity to resign, but Haywood declined.
“At first, she told me I was terminated,” he said. “The paperwork had already been handed to me, written and done.”
Haywood said he is upset over the termination, has lost sleep and weight, and is ready for his life to move forward. He said he felt as though the time and money he put into the department over the course of his 20 years was wasted. He said that included grants he secured for the department.
“For us, it was just about getting rid of junk and getting things we needed for investigative purposes,” Haywood said. “I have receipts for paint and screws and brushes. It wasn’t like we were going to Hooters or the strip club. (The items purchased with the money) were things we needed.”
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.
Those of us employed, either public or private employor, expect proper action before our livelihood is taken away. I would say this is poor management of a public offical.
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. “
Napoleon Bonaparte~~
gerald75 you must be racist yourself to say something like "just another black politician abusing their power". I wonder how many more black people you have said that about. Just because Mrs. David is BLACK and doing her job there has to be some HATERS and NEGATIVE peple who always have something to say, please get a life and move on.
lifetimecitizen...my my my. You need to watch your mouth and not put Mrs. David famly in what she do. Why can't you all just accept the FACT that WRONG IS WRONG AND RIGHT IS RIGHT? Why do you wait until someonething bad happens to talk negative about someone, and then down the person for doing their job?
TO ALL YOU NEGATIVE PEOPLE WHO HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT MRS. DAVID, GET OVER IT OK AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE, DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO START TALKING YOUR CRAP ABOUT SOMEONE, I DON'T CARE IF THEY ARE WHITE, BLACK, HISPANIC, NATIVE AMERICAN OR WHATEVER. TO MRS. DAVID, IT'S A FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOU WHILE YOU ARE LIVING AND THEY SURE HECK IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOU WHEN YOU DIE, I APPLAUD YOU FOR DOING YOUR JOB, HANDS DOWN!!!
Since you may not even be aware of your mistakes I took the time to point some of them out to you.
1.incorrect "You need to watch your mouth and not put Mrs. David famly in what she do"
1. correct "You need to watch your mouth and not involve Mrs. David's family in what she does."
2. "TO ALL YOU NEGATIVE PEOPLE WHO HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT MRS. DAVID, GET OVER IT OK AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE, DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO START TALKING YOUR CRAP ABOUT SOMEONE, I DON'T CARE IF THEY ARE WHITE, BLACK, HISPANIC, NATIVE AMERICAN OR WHATEVER."
Negative people have something (not has something)
There are just too many run-on's in this phrase to list them all. Commas are a tool for writing but should not be used for the sake of using them.
Also, dont be so ignorant as to race bait! John Haywood got the death penalty for a speeding ticket. Stop with this race crap---ALL OF THIS has no place! I have a business here and there is no place for racism! Black and white citizens I'm calling on you ALL to unite with me and stamp out this issue from the midst of our fair city. I,too, grew up with Marchelle, Jeff Smart, and Haywood! We all grew up as friends. Stop giving Hamlet another black eye! Channel 9 made us look like a freaking circus tonight! Thank you all, but especially Marchelle. She didn't even wait for the SBI to investigate before firing Haywood! Now they have exposed Dewey Brower for being a convicted felon, rendering him unable to EVEN vote for himself! Both Dr. Bill Horne and Mr Bert Unger volunteered to fill Dr. Dianne Honeycutt's seat but apparently the Council had other ideas and thought it best to appoint Mr. Brower. Mr. Unger's health has been unfortunately in decline and as I see it, he does not deserve the abuse. Folks, let us reclaim what is rightfully ours-let us stand up, shine light on the truth, and do what is necessary and right. Doing what is right is sometimes the hardest task of all. We must put people of integrity and character in our Town Hall.
Regardless of if it was right or wrong, I feel the Council should be involved (at the very least notified in advanced) in hiring and firing of department heads.
What is holla?
NAACP has an public office with a local charter president. The NAACP is in each yearly parade here in Hamlet, there is no KKK in the parade.
Crooked cop? Define crooked for me anyway. The crooks are all the hoodlums living within 3 miles of the Hamlet police department breaking into homes and selling the stolen items to the pawn shops not to mention the stabbings, shootings and drug abuse. Go to court this week and just see who the majority of the criminals are. My wife used to shop at Piggly Wiggly every week. After several altercations with black men making rude comments to her and telling her that they would give her something she would never forget, she will not go there alone anymore. Sorry local Piggly Wiggly. Same thing happened at the Dollar General behind Burger King. Hoodlums harassing white women. Red neck town? Our county sheriff is black in case you have'nt noticed. True, there is racism here in Richmond county, mostly on the black side. I took my 7 year old to the fair and I heard the worst language coming from large groups of black people. One black mother jerked her 6 year old up by the wrist and told her that she would slap the sh!# out of them if they did not listen to her. Next year we will not be attending the fair, thanks to the violence and language coming from mostly blacks. Blacks overcame slavery. Blacks triumphed on civil rights. They lost the battle when the government paid young mothers not to get married and gave them a place to stay and paid for their food as long as they continued to have children without being married. They used to have a name for the children that came from single parents. But now it's the normal thing. Solution? 1.Drug test welfare recipients. 2.Implant young mothers with an internal birth control that are on welfare. 3.Limit housing and food stamps to only 3 years. 4.Get a job. Finally, I believe if you are not retired or disabled or married to someone that is, you should not be allowed to vote for anyone in charge of dictating where my tax money goes. I don't care if you don't agree with me, the truth is the truth.
City employees are now working out of fear. Therefore, the next PD Chief will think twice before getting in a high speed chase all the way to Lumberton after an armed robbery at BB&T or the Fire Chief might second guess cutting a hole in the roof of a burning building to vent an attic fire. Where does this nonsense end?
Thank you Marchell, for putting your desires first as in your choice as police chief in Deputy Patrick....a long term goal, yes....but you have certainly made a name for yourself, however despicable. You've caused such damage to the Haywood's and to Hamlet---and you don't even live here!!! Shameful.