Wednesday, July 1, 2015
(Courtesy: WBOC.COM)
(Courtesy: WBOC.COM)
POCOMOKE CITY, Md. -- The Pocomoke City Police
Department is without a leader for the time being.
Pocomoke Mayor Bruce Morrison confirmed for WBOC
that police chief Kelvin Sewell is no longer with the
department.
Morrison would not specify a reason for Sewell's
departure but did say it is a personnel matter.
In an exclusive statement made to WBOC, former chief
Sewell says the mayor and city council voted to
terminate his position.
Sewell says that decision came Monday night during a
closed session meeting.
A meeting that Rev. Ronnie White of Pocomoke's House
of Love church says should not have happened without
the public's knowledge.
"None of the citizens were informed. We never knew that
this was going to happen. It was just like we were left
out of the loop," said White.
The community says it's not backing down from finding
out the truth behind Sewell's termination.
Several community leaders including Rev. White and
Rev. James Jones are holding a town meeting Thursday
evening at 6:30pm at New Macedonia Baptist Church.
There, the community will discuss the next steps toward
finding answers for Sewell's termination.
Jones says the work Sewell has done for the city since
he took office in 2010 is proof he is still needed in
Pocomoke.
"I've done my homework as late as today. Over the last
20 years, we are at an all time low in crime, drug
activity," said Jones. "I mean it still happens, but it's
almost nonexistent compared to the way it's been in the
past."
Some locals including Eremine Beckwith say she's
fearful of what Pocomoke might become without
someone like Sewell leading by example.
"I'm fearing that we're going to end up being like down
south. As far as police brutality, as far as the young
black men. I fear for their life. [Sewell] has been keeping
the town peaceful," said Beckwith.
Sewell says he does not know who will replace as police
chief or who will be assigned as the interim police chief.
In an exclusive statement WBOC obtained, Sewell says
that he has loved protecting and serving the city of
Pocomoke, working with the community and the city's
youth during his tenure as chief.
Although Sewell could not comment further as to why
he's no longer with the department, he wishes the best
for the city.
WHY???
ReplyDeleteWhatever the reason, whatever the outcome, please be respectful of the former chief's privacy. Whenever someone has a difficult job situation, it is important that personnel matters stay private. The public does not need to know everything, at least not at this time. I am neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the situation, just hoping that we all are able to show respect here.
ReplyDeleteThe police that have come from Baltimore are very shady....I don't doubt what the personnel matter is but I can only imagine! This is not a race thing....this is a respect thing! The police are not respected because of how they treat the younger people. ...I have witnessed the chief and several officers threatening the younger generation tellin them that they would f $!@ them up! Lets not start on the officers messing with the younger girls....No pitty given here...It's good to see blacks do things but there is a way to do them!
ReplyDeleteMonths ago when all the anti LE rhetoric started I made it a point to wave to all LE when I see them. We were going past the PCPD and standing outside was a young black officer in uniform. I waved and he waved back very enthusiastically. I said to my husband what a darling young man and what a wonderful department. Must have great leadership because the young officer seemed so upbeat and confident and had a 1st class personality to be waving like he did to me, a white lady old enough to be his grandmother and a complete stranger just taking the scenic route through Pocomoke.
ReplyDeleteWow
ReplyDelete