HAMLET — A law firm representing the Seaboard City’s former police chief is claiming retaliation against the lawman from the city manager —in violation of the municipality’s whistleblower policy.
A statement from the Moore County firm Van Camp, Meacham & Newman, PLLC alleges that Dennis Brown was fired from the Hamlet Police Department days after he informed the city attorney about a sexual harassment complaint made by a female officer.
(NOTE: The statement was received at 4:17 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17.)
Brown was terminated on July 23, according to the termination letter — which was requested by the RO on July 24 and received on Sept. 12 — “as a result of catastrophic loss of trust and confidence,” in violation of the city’s personnel policy.
The only thing "catastrophic," the attorneys claim, is that Terziu retaliated against Brown “by terminating his employment and by using him as a diversionary smokescreen to conceal from the public the fact that a female police officer had just accused the Hamlet City Manager of sexually harassing her.”
“After terminating Chief Brown, Mr. Terziu claims to have conducted his own ‘internal investigation’ as to Chief Brown,” reads the statement from the law firm. “Based upon the information we have received to date, the so-called ‘investigation’ appears to have been nothing more than a retroactive fishing expedition by Mr. Terziu to fabricate a pre-textual basis for Chief Brown’s termination.”
According to the firm, Terziu sent an email to both Brown and Major Hudson Chitwood on July 11, thanking and commending them for their work with the department.
The law firm purportedly quotes from Terziu’s email:
“I wanted to take a moment to write this note, as it’s sometimes difficult to fully express just how grateful I am, especially when it involves a personal and emotional matter…[y]our response was a clear reflection of the character and integrity I’ve seen from each of you in other situations,” and “[y]our actions demonstrate professionalism beyond reproach and bring great credit upon the Hamlet Police Department and the City of Hamlet.”
(NOTE: A copy of the email was not provided with the statement.)
However, on that same day, according to attorneys, an unnamed female officer with the department reported to Brown “and other employees” of the department “that Mr. Terziu had sexually harassed her that day.”
“This female officer reported through her chain of command that Mr. Terziu confronted her when she was alone, asked her about the absence of her wedding ring, asked her where she lived, and then asked her if he could have her phone number,” the firm says, adding that Brown later reported the incident to the city attorney.
Days later, Brown was out of a job.
“Presumably, the City has initiated an investigation regarding the sexual harassment allegations made against Mr. Terziu,” reads the statement.
Hamlet City Manager John Terziu
Contributed photo
The attorneys also say that a complaint — dated the same day Brown was terminated — was sent to Terziu from an employee from “another city police department in North Carolina” claiming that Brown had placed incorrect information on “certain Hamlet Police officers’ F5B forms when they left the department.”
That complaint was reportedly received “just hours before” Brown’s termination.
“Of course, Chief Brown vehemently denies this claim and the claim itself was never investigated by the City prior to his termination,” reads the statement.
“We believe the facts make clear that Mr. Terziu terminated Chief Brown in retaliation for Chief Brown reporting that a female police officer had accused Mr. Terziu of sexual harassment,” the attorneys say. “Based upon the facts currently available, it appears that Mr. Terziu, on behalf of the City, violated both the city’s personnel policy and the city’s whistleblower policy, which states: ‘The City of Hamlet prohibits any form of reprisal, retaliation or otherwise discriminatory actions against a complainant who, in good faith, makes or intends to make, a complaint under this policy.’”
The firm says it intends to pursue “all legal remedies” available to Brown.
“It is often said that there are two sides to every story. Mr. Terziu has spent a considerable amount of time trying to damage the reputation of Chief Brown, without mentioning that a female police officer had just accused Mr. Terziu of sexual harassment, and that her complaint had been properly forwarded to the city attorney by Chief Brown.
“We feel it is vital that the City of Hamlet and its citizens have all the facts and hear both sides of this story,” the statement concluded, closing with, “We have no additional comments at this time.”
The RO contacted Terziu for a response and his reply was: “I cannot comment on ongoing personnel matters.”
