Salisbury yet to present new policy after misconduct investigation

SALISBURY, N.C. — It's been six months since three firefighters were fired in Salisbury in connection with a sexual misconduct investigation.

The fire department and city of Salisbury promised Nov. 30 that work would start Dec. 3 to create a "revised zero tolerance policy."

City officials said then that "over the next month," the fire department and human resources staff would review changes made after a previous misconduct investigation in 2011, look at best practices in other agencies, and create a policy to present to the public.

Despite filling the open spots left from the dismissals, the fire department has not presented that revised policy, and some residents said it's taking far too long.

"I just felt sure that something would be resolved before now," Salisbury resident Kathryn Sellers said.

Eyewitness News emailed the city's public information officer nearly every month since the investigation closed, asking when this new policy would be presented to city council.

In February, she wrote that staff was "still working." In March, she stated there was no firm date but it was expected "to occur in April."

Earlier in May, she wrote that Fire Chief Bob Parnell would be making "making his recommendations to City Manager Doug Paris at a time in the future that has not yet been scheduled."

"I think the manager of this town should hold those departments accountable," Lane Yates, who owns several properties in Salisbury, said.

Eyewitness News went to City Hall to speak with Paris and went to the fire station to speak with Parnell but was told at both offices that they were in meetings. Both did not return messages.

City councilmember Karen Alexander, though, stressed patience. She said that government moves slowly and carefully.
"Wouldn't we rather be right about it than quick about it?" she said.

"You can't be both?" Eyewitness News asked.

"I don't think you can," Alexander said. "I think the process doesn't allow it to be quick."

The city of Salisbury has not released details about what exactly happened in the sexual misconduct case, only alluding to "inappropriate photos," "inappropriate activity" and an "inappropriate relationship."

Eyewitness News spoke briefly with one of the firefighters fired, but he did not want to talk about the investigation and said he is trying to move on with his career.

WSOC