The N&R reports the Department of Justice will not pursue a federal discrimmination lawsuit filed by 39 black police officers against the City of Greensboro, former Police Chief David Wray, former assistant chief Randall Brady and Detective Scott Sanders.
Remember that Sanders was the key figure in black officers’ claims that they were being unfairly investigated under the Wray administration, and the only charges that could be mustered against him were obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice — both of which were dropped — and illegally using a federal computer —for which he was acquitted.
The N&R says it’s “unclear why federal officials withdrew their stake in the lawsuit,” but Sanders attorney Seth Cohen has a good guess:
Cohen wrote the City Council on Monday saying he believes the Justice Department pulled out after a federal attorney recently met with Sanders for several hours about discrimination claims.
“Officer Sanders answered all the questions which had initially concerned (DOJ Senior Trial Attorney Toni) Jackson,” Cohen wrote.
“He explained in detail why various investigations were conducted involving African American police officers. He explained why the so-called black book was created and how it was used. He openly and honestly set the record straight.”
That obviously undermines the officers’ case. It’s also obvious —- as council member Sandra Anderson Groat so insightfully pointed out —- that the City Council “could proceed two ways: settle or let the lawsuit take its course.”
