THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 20, 1996 TAG: 9608210577
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 64 lines
Robin Vanscoy, an officer fired recently by Police Chief H.L. Bunch Jr., will protest her discharge in a hearing before the City Council on Sept. 25 rather than Thursday as scheduled.
Vanscoy's hearing adds to the storm swirling around Bunch. Nine officers have left the Elizabeth City Police Department since June amid claims that morale is at an all-time low.
``In every organization, law enforcement or otherwise, you have dissension,'' said Bunch. ``I'm not here to win popularity contests. It is my job to provide a law enforcement service to the community that is in direct proportion to the resources furnished for that purpose.''
City Manager Steven Harrell conducted a survey among police officers at the request of the City Council. Harrell said the main problem is workload. Bunch has asked for 17 new officers in the past four years. The council has funded only four.
Vanscoy's departure was part of the recent exodus that has increased the workload of the remaining 40 officers. After being fired, Vanscoy took her case to the Albemarle Chapter of the Police Benevolent Association. The local board agreed that she was fired without due cause, according to Sam Keith, chapter president. Keith is an investigator with the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Department. The local board sent Vanscoy's grievance to the North Carolina PBA.
``They thought she was unfairly treated,'' said Randy Brewington, staff representative of Southern States Police Benevolent Association. He and a PBA-appointed attorney, Mike McGuiness, represent Vanscoy. ``I did not know Robin. They know what's going on locally.''
Vanscoy used to work for the Virginia Beach Police Department but her supervisor there declined to say why she left. The local PBA did not hear Bunch's side of the story.
Council members are at odds on whether police officers should disregard established policy and gripe directly to them.
``I have full confidence in the city manager,'' said councilman Zack Robertson. ``I don't have anything to do with Chief Bunch. I do have the utmost confidence in the Elizabeth City Police Department. I have problems with people not following the chain of command.
``We don't need to be all over the front page. It's not fair to the other police officers for a couple of officers to say what they said anonymously. It leaves everybody wondering if the other is the one who is only going to give 80 percent like he said in the newspaper. They should stand together strong.''
Council member Anita Hummer disagrees.
``I know you have to have a chain of command,'' said Hummer. ``But I tend to be maverick about this. If an officer is having problems, he should be able to talk to City Council.'' Some officers have approached her, she said.
Bunch became chief of police in 1992, after W.C. Owens had held the position for 47 years. Owens was pressured to resign, which upset several senior officers.
``I had confidence in Chief Owens when others said he was too old,'' said Robertson. ``All his officers respected him. You're not going to get this with a new chief. It took Chief Owens 47 years to get there. Some of them may say, `It's not like it was when Chief Owens was here.' You're going to get that no matter who's in there.''
Bunch remains upbeat, at least publicly, and refuses to criticize other officers or Vanscoy.
``I feel these are some very valuable issues that will be addressed and bring about positive results,'' he said. ``It would be unethical and inappropriate for me to comment further.'' by CNB