Citing “continuous and repetitive” interference by the town staff and council, embattled Chadbourn Police Chief Anthony Spivey submitted his resignation to the town board Tuesday.
Spivey was placed on paid leave March 4 after a letter from District Attorney Jon David to the town detailed problems in the Chadbourn Police evidence room. David wrote that a case had to be dismissed when drugs and a firearm could not be produced.
David called for an investigation of the Chadbourn Police office and for Spivey to be dismissed by the town. Spivey has not been charged with any crimes.
Spivey was promoted to chief in 2018.
Spivey’s letter was shared with the town council Tuesday night. In the letter, he calls out the town council and staff.
“Recently there have been some disturbing accusations placed upon me causing myself and my family humiliation and unnecessary stress,” Spivey wrote. “These accusations are false and without merit. I feel that our citizens of Chadbourn have been let down once again.”
In his resignation letter, Spivey says that he was told by Manager Jerome Chestnut that David’s office stated the chief would no longer be able to be called as a witness.
Spivey said that he is the target of “inaccurate and derogatory statements and accusations to the press by the District attorney’s office. He also called out the town leadership over the series of changes in CPD leadership over the past ten years.
“The continuous and repetitive actions taken by town administration and town council to interfere with the performance of my job duties as well as their constant daily efforts to remove me from my position made it very obvious as to why the town of Chadbourn has not been able to secure and keep a strong leader as the police chief.”
Spivey was embroiled in a fight with board members and Town Finance Officer Patricia Garrell earlier this year over a GPS monitoring system town officials wanted to install on police vehicles. Spivey argued that the system was not secure, and it was possible for real-time information about officers to be leaked, potentially endangering officers or investigations. Town officials were concerned that police vehicles were not being used according to town policy, and wanted a tracking system other than that used by the police department.
Town Manager Jerome Chestnut said that Spivey submitted his resignation on Tuesday, and that it was effective immediately. Chadbourn officials have not been informed of any change in the review by the State Bureau of Investigation or the District Attorney’s office. CCN reached out to David this morning for a comment.
Ken Elliot is the interim chief of the department.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
