The High Point Enterprise from High Point, North Carolina • Page 29

Council Favors Clapp's Request Statement By ROBERT MARKS Enterprise Staff Writer At the request of Mayor Paul Clapp, City Council voted today to establish itself as a body to investigate the i i Police Department. With only one negative vote, Council agreed to act under the authority of a state law which gives it subpoena power to carry out the investigation. Clapp was authorized by Council to appoint a three- man committee to employ an attorney to direct the investigation. Clapp immediately named Councilmen Arnold Kbonce a Republicans, and Councilman Roy a Democrat, as members of i designated Culler to act as chairman. All three were among those voting today to carry out the investigation.

AIsoi voting in support of the investigation were Councilmen James Pearce, S.E. Burford arid O. Arthur Kirkman. Councilwoman Rachel Gray voted no. "This is the first time this has been presented to us," she said of the statement read by Clapp.

"All I know about the controversy over the police department is what I have read in the newspapers. I "TM TM TM Police Study Ordered By Mayor would like to have time to talk to the chief of police and i police department." Councilman Frank Wood was not present for today's regular session of Council. Council's action brings the long-standing 'community controversy over the police a i forefront again. The dispute has been simmering for approximately a year since the submission of an evaluation of the police department the International Assn. of Chiefs of Police.

The IACP was employed by the city in the fall of 1972, at a cost of $18,600, to conduct a study of the police department. Both the police department and the community were rent by controversy with the disclosure in May, 1972, of a i i i department. Six officers were dismissed from the force and six others were charged i criminal offenses. Subsequently, however, four of the dismissed officers were reinstated to duty following appeals of their dismissals before the Civil i i i Criminal charges against the other six were dismissed or nol pressed in District Court for lack of evidence. The whole controversy was touched on by Council in a general discussion today, following the reading of the statement by Clapp.

A Republican, Clapp made a call for an investigation of the department a key issue in his successful campaign for mayor last year. The Republican Party platform called for such an investigation. In September, Clapp, then a member of City Council called for the resignation of Chief of Police Laurie Pritchett. In his statement to Council' today, Clapp said, "Public confidence in the department has been shattered, to say the least. Even before the discovery of the theft ring there were numerous rumors and accusations within our police department and it seems very clear that things have not improved since that time." Referring to the IACP study, Clapp said, "Certainly everyone agrees that no good purpose was served by the expenditure of the money and that the evaluation was a management survey and not an investigation.

"There, are continuing problems of a lack of public i i department, a lack of morale, and- very low efficiency," the mayor said. "Surely, we cannot allow this to continue." He called on Council to "convene as an investigation body in accordance with 160A-80 of the General Statutes of North Carolina to determine the facts and the whole truth about the continuing problems within our police department." Concluding the statement, Clapp proposed that a three- man committee of Council be authorized to "employ an attorney of competence, stature, and complete integrity to handle the investigation with such investigative assistance as he and the three member i may deem necessary. "The good and faithful members of the department deserve no less," Clapp ended his statement. He then added to Council, "I would like to say that the citizens of High Point deserve no less. The air should be cleared of rumors and accusations that have been around for two years.

Let the chips fall where they may," The motion to proceed with the investigation as outlined by the mayor was made by Pearce and seconded by Culler. In the following discussion, Council members generally expressed their dissatisfaction with the IACP survey as a i i to resolve the problem. Both Koonce and Wells questioned City Manager Harold Cheek regarding his feeling in the matter. In his statement, Clapp noted that he had some "detailed conversations with our city manager regarding these problems which are actually within his jurisdiction but he, like the rest of us, does not have all the facts," Responding to a question from Wells, Cheek said, "You have put me right in the i This is a legislative action you are considering. I will cooperate in every way." "Are you content with the efficiency, the operation of the police department at this time?" Koonce asked Cheek.

"I am not prepared to answer your statement in its entirety," Cheek responded. "I was not given an advanced copy, although I was aware something like this might be given to Council. "The statute gives Council the authority to hear without bias any complaint brought to Council," Cheek continued. "I have heard what others have heard, but no one has ever come to me with a complaint.that I felt required an investigation on my part." Pearce said, "I don't agree with everything the mayor has said, but in essence we have an obligation to take steps to resolve this once and for all. There continues still to be some doubt.

Council has an obligation to bring this to a conclusion, to determine the status of the police a a a whatever action necessary to restore public confidence in our police department." "Either something is wrong or nothing is wrong," said Wells. "There is fault to be found with the faultfinders, but this Council needs to respond. Citizens expect Council to respond in a responsible way." Said Burford, "We need to get this thing off the backs of the plice department and others. I want it off my back, the whole thing, as a member of Council. I am tired of it.

People call me all the time about the police department. I don't know. I'm just a bunch of 'I don't today." "You are the man who livened up this situation when you called for the i i a i Kirkman said to Clapp at one point. "How much of this is you and the chief of police, and how much is you and the police department?" "I can't see what anyone has to fear of an investigation except fear itself," Clapp responded during the discussion. "We need to get this cloud off the backs of the police department.

It is time these things came to a conclusion." An Enterprise Backgrounder Disclosure Of Police Theft Ring Marked Start Of Controversy ROBERT MARKS nolirp a Kooono-! By ROBERT MARKS Enterprise Staff Writer The shock of events during a May weekend in 1972 was the start of a community- over its police department. It was oh Friday afternoon, 26, (1972, -that Chief of TM announced at a news conference the dismissal of five officers from the force for alleged criminal activities. Subsequently, criminal warrants were served on six officers, charging them with such offenses as breaking and entering, and larceny. Six other officers were dismissed from the force for allegedly having knowledge of wrongdoing and failing to report this information. The alleged "theft ring" within the police department a i Pritchett said, through a departmental internal investigation and with information from an outside source.

Pritchett, who has been chief of police in High Point since August, 1966, said at the news conference that Friday afternoon, "This is the sickest day of my life." But the chief himself quickly became the center of the public controversy over Bloodmobile Visit Friday The Bloodmobile will be at the High Point Red Cross Chapter House on English Road Friday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There is a special need for A-negative and B-hegative blood types, Red Cross officials stated. the police department. He was alleged to be involved with gambling interests and i a i i a gambling to flourish in High Point, charges which the chief has "constantly denied.

'As a'-'result. of testimony before the Civil Service Com- mission and in District Court in High Point, criticism also a a a i Pritchett for his leadership of the police department. High Point was divided emotionally and politically by the chain of events and conflicting testimony about conditions within the department. Four of the six officers who had been dismissed appealed to the Civil Service Commission. After three lengthy hearings during June and July, 1972, all four were ordered reinstated to the the commission holding that their dismissals had been "arbitrary." One of the officers, a lieutenant, was reinstated at the rank of- patrolman.

He appealed the demotion to Superior Court, however, and the court directed that he be returned to duty at his full rank. During the course of the Civil Service Commission hearings, testimony at various times touched on the handling of funds within the police department and the alleged theft of shotgun shells and money from the Police Academy, the misappropriation of supplies, and sexual misconduct involving a woman and several offices at the Police Academy. When the cases of the six officers facing criminal charges came before District Court in July and August, 1972, they were dismissed or nol prossed because of irregularities in the drawing of the warrants and insufficient evidence. District Court Judge Elreta Alex- "ander was sharply critical a number of times of the police department handling of the cases. She spoke critically of "deals" being made and on several occasions commented that the proceedings were "the most irregular thing I have ever encountered." In another instance, Judge Alexander said that, in her opinion, "there never was a departmental investigation into the cases.

They felt one man was guilty of wrongdoing and that made everybody he had been associated with suspect." Meanwhile, the police controversy became a political issue confronting City Council. Mayor Bill Bencini, a Republican had from the first declared his confidence in Pritchett and adamantly calls for an outside investigation of the police department. Bencini had the support of the six-member Democratic majority on Council. Carson Stout, a Democrat, had been mayor of High Point in 1966 when City Manager Harold-Cheek had tapped Pritchett to become the new chief of police. But Paul W.

Clapp, a Republican, took issue with both Bencini and other of i Favoring an outside investigation of the department, in September, 1972, Clapp called for the resignation of Pritchett. Finally, as the controversy continued, Council voted by 5 to 4 on Oct. 19, 1972, to con- tract with the International Assn. of Chiefs of Police for an evaluation of the police department, at a cost of $18,600. Clapp, one of the four who voted against the IACP evaluation; described it only as a management survey which would not restore confidence in the police department.

Submitted to City Council on May 2, 1973, nearly one year after the "theft ring" scandal broke, the IACP study reported on the organization of the police department, its management and administration, its investigative procedures, and the attitudes of its personnel. It praised the department for having "made significant a i i a i a operational progress in the past five years" and cited Pritchett for "providing excellent leadership and direction to the department." The IACP also commented in its report that "no actual evidence to substantiate" charges of corruption against Pritchett had been offered, "nor did we learn of such evidence." The IACP survey reported, however, that the department mismanaged the investigation into the alleged theft ring, that the morale in the department is low "with respect to attitudes about favoritism, support by the City Council' and" city management, and salaries. There also exists in the department, the IACP "excessive favoritism in determining assignments, transfers and promotions." A new line of command structure and some administrative procedures recommended by the IACP have been instituted in the police department. The claim that the department has not received proper support from city government is disputed, however, particularly by City Manager Harold Cheek. He pointed out that the police department budget increased from $882,270 in the 1966-67 fiscal year to $1,916,215 in the 1972-73 fiscal year.

It is over $2 million for the 1973-74 budget year. Since the "theft ring" scandal erupted, the depart- (See DISCLOSURE On 2D) ON THE SCENE Old Glasses Piling Up Frames for glasses these days come a wide variety. Customers can choose among wire frames, horn-rimmed, plastic and any kind of color to stay in fashion in wearing glasses. When the frames get old most are just thrown into the back of drawers until forgotten. "New Eyes for the Needy" is a program to gather all those old and tossed-out frames which are then processed carefully and redistributed to needy people in the U.S.

and foreign countries. The High Point Enterprise carrier boys have been busy for the last six days collecting items such as metal frames, unbroken plastic frames with lenses, nonprescription sunglasses, cataract glasses, brown artificial eyes and other metal scrap for the project. According to Richard league, circulation manager for The Enterprise, "The boys have collected and turned in well over 2,000 pair, and I know for sure that a lot of the boys are holding what they have until the last day." Carrier boys have been collecting the glasses while collecting for the newspaper. They will continue to ask for the old frames until 5 p.m. Saturday.

"AH the boys have been enthusiastic about the program, and with prizes for the top three collectors, the boys are working hard," said Teague. "It is amazing how many people have glasses to get rid of, and according to the carriers, people are responding real well," he said. First place for the carrier boy collecting the most frames will be a 10-speed bicycle. A $50 savings bond is the prize for second and third place is tickets to a Carolina Cougars basketball game. "Eyes for the Needy" is a nonprofit volunteer organization whose sole purpose is to help provide better vision for the poor all over the world.

The National Society for the Prevention of Blindness endorses the program. More than a million people have been helped by the organization that doesn't ask any money contributions. The metal-framed glasses and metal scrap are sold to a refinery and the redeemed cash is used to purchase new glasses and artificial eyes for the needy in the U.S. Re-useable plastic framed glasses are tested, classified. and sent abroad to medical missions and hospitals for redistribution.

Only three more days are left for the carrier boys to collect the old frames, and more are needed. Those old specs in the back of the drawer can be new 'glasses for needy people all over the world. Asheboro Walk-A-Thon The South Asheboro area will hold its first March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon Saturday, beginning with registration at 8 a.m. at the North Carolina Zoological Park. The walk will begin at 9.

Before the walk, each participant must find persons or firms to sponsor him on a per-mile basis. Bicycles will be awarded to the boy and girl collecting the most money from their sponsors. Other prizes will be awarded to the oldest and a a trophies will be given to the boy and girl finishing first. Meeting Switched The Guilford County Precinct Workshop has changed its meeting from March.9 to April 6. The workshop will be held in Room 2E of the new Guilford Courthouse between 9-12 a.m.

Volunteers Needed The High Point Voluntary Action Center urgently needs volunteers in several areas. They include: tutors in reading and math at Oak Hill School, assistance in the Police Dept. summer a i a assistance for senior citizens in paying bills and transport a i a volunteers at Maryfield Nursing Home. Asks Probe Here is the statement read to City Council today by Mayor Paul Clapp, in which he called on the Council to conduct an investigation of the High Point Police Department. "For many months since the public exposure of a theft ring operating in our Police Department in fact nearly two years public confidence in the department has been shattered to say the least.

Even before the discovery of the theft ring there were numerous rumors and accusations within our police department and it seems.very clear that things have not improved since that time. "The former City Council spent $18,600.00 for an LA. C. P. evaluation of our police department.

Certainly everyone agrees that no good purpose was served by the expenditure of the money and that the evaluation was a management survey and not an investigation. There are continuing problems of a lack of public confidence in the department, a lack of morale, and low efficiency as evidenced by last year's report of a increase in major crimes in High Point as compared to approximately to increase in our neighboring cities. Surely we can not allow this to continue. I have had some detailed conversations with our city manager regarding these problems which are actually within his jurisdiction but he, like the rest of us, does not have all the facts. "Therefore, as Mayor, I would ask that this council convene as an investigative body in accordance with 160A-80 of the General Statutes of North Carolina to determine the facts and the whole truth about the continuing problems within our police department.

I would ask that the motion or resolution specifically include the appointment of a committee of three members of council to be given the power to employ an attorney of competence, stature, and complete integrity to handle the investigation with such investigative assistance as he and the three member committee may deem necessary. The good and faithful members of the department deserve no less." THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE Thursday Afternoon, March 7,1974 SECTION City Will Give Parking Meters 6-Month Rest Henry Shavitz Shavitz Is Appointed To Council By FORREST CATES Enterprise Staff Writer a i a Republican, was appointed to City Council today to succeed Jim a who is resigning. Pearce, also a Republican a a i resigning effective March 15 in to move to Thomasville, where he recently was named chief executive officer for North Carolina National Bank. Since his appointment to Thomasville, Pearce's resignation from Council had been expected. He indicated last week that he probably would resign by April 1.

Pearce moved immediately that Shavitz be appointed to succeed him. Shavitz ran unsuccessfully for Council in the i election last November, but he was the high man in votes among the Republican candidates who failed to win. He is a resident of the second ward and was endorsed for the appointment by the High Point Republican Party executive committee. No other nominations were submitted, although Councilwoman Rachel Gray, a Democrat, suggested the name of Mrs. Janet O'Brien.

A Republican, Mrs. O'Brien sought nomination for Council in the Republican primary last fall, but was defeated. Her name had been mentioned previously, and unexpectedly, as a successor to Pearce on Council. "I am not nominating Mrs. O'Brien.

I am just bringing her name to your attention," Mrs. Gray said today. "I have been advised by both parties that I should not nominate her." The nomination of Shavitz was approved on unanimous vote, with two Democrats, Councilmen Roy Culler and Frank Wood, being absent. By ROBERT MARKS Enterprise Staff Writer Metered parking in High Point, with the exception of 15-minute spaces, is going to be suspended for a period of six months on a trial basis. During that period, a two- hour free parking limit will be in effect, with police officers marking tires of cars to enforce the limitation.

The parking change will occur in 20 days as a result of action by City Council today. At the request of the Down- a Progress, Council amended the city parking ordinance to provide for the six-month trial period. Representing the Down- a Progress, Bob Morehead reported to Council 'on the results of -a survey recently made by the merchants. Four questions were asked in the public survey, to which 1,238 persons responded, Morehead said. When asked if they were a i i with present parking, 1,195 persons said no and 40 said yes, Morehead reported.

A total of 1,131 persons said that parking meters downtown were a factor in making them go elsewhere to shop, and 82 said the meters were not a factor. Those who said they were aware of off-street parking downtown totalled 1,117, while 86 said they were not aware of these facilities, he continued. Finally, 1,140 said they favored two-hour free parking, while 98 said they did not, Morehead said. "On the basis of our survey," he told' Council, "we request that you grant a six- months trial period for two- hour free parking. If the two- hour limitation is strictly en- (SeeCITVOn2D) Library's Answer Book Mrs, Charles Johnson, a member of the staff of the High Point Public Library, checks the question and answer book to learn what the public wants to know about the library.

The book is located in a small booth which has been set up in the Wrenn Street lobby near the circulation desk. The loose-leaf binder contains forms on which questions or suggestions may be written. Each day, the sheets are removed, answers are written by the library staff, and the sheets are returned to the binder, so that the public may read both the questions and the answers. Photocopies of the questions and answers will be mailed to persons who leave their names and addresses. The question and answer book is one way the library is encouraging its users to offer suggestions and ask questions about the library, according to Librarian Neal Austin.

(Staff Photo by Sonny Htdgtcodc).