Facing Abuse of Power Charge, N.C. Chief Suspended
July 27--BOILING SPRING LAKES -- Boiling Spring Lakes City Manager Jeff Repp suspended Police Chief Emmett Ballree with pay Friday morning.
Ballree was suspended pending a town investigation into allegations of potential abuse of his powers as police chief, Repp said.
The suspension came after Repp received a complaint he wants to look into. He said he also wants to see if there are similar complaints.
"It has to be done with him not being in the department for a little bit," Repp said. The State Bureau of Investigation began looking into Ballree on June 4 at the request of the District Attorney's Office and a judge.
Repp said the suspension is a separate matter. He declined to release the nature of the complaint.
On June 11, Ballree sent out an department email telling his employees he was the focus of an SBI investigation for "possible acts of obstruction of justice."
-- Julian March
Copyright 2012 - Star-News, Wilmington, N.C.