HAMLET — Residents should soon know more about why the former police chief was fired two months ago.
The Hamlet City Council on Wednesday, Sept. 24 approved a resolution giving City Manager John Terziu the go-ahead to release a public statement and supporting documents regarding the termination of Dennis Brown.
However, that statement was not ready following the more-than-two-hour closed session — under statutes related to attorney-client privilege and personnel matters — during which members of the media were locked out of City Hall while the council met in the chamber.
According to the resolution, the city manager “reviewed documented evidence and determined that former Police Chief Brown engaged in conduct resulting in a catastrophic loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead the Hamlet Police Department.”
The wording of that “Whereas” portion of the resolution mirrors language used in the vague July 23 termination letter provided to the RO on Sept. 12 in response to a July 24 public records request.
The resolution also states that “a subsequent investigation provided evidence that confirmed the basis for termination …”.
Brown’s attorneys at the Moore County firm Van Camp, Meacham & Newman, PLLC released a statement to the RO on Sept. 19, alleging that the former chief was terminated in retaliation to a sexual harassment allegation against Terziu from a female officer.
The Hamlet City Council prepares to go into closed session on Sept. 24.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
According to the resolution — and a Sept. 22 statement from the city — the comments from Brown’s attorneys “defame Mr. Terziu and make statements about him they know or should know not are untrue, including the false allegation that Mr. Brown was fired” for reporting said allegation.
City Attorney T.C. Morphis told the RO that he conducted the preliminary investigation into the allegation, which the city said is “completely unsubstantiated.”
Brown's attorneys also previously stated that the former chief was "in a position where he is forced to defend his integrity against allegations that are false and baseless."
Those allegations should soon be made public. Terziu has previously cited ongoing internal and external investigations — declining to reveal the entity conducting the "external" investigation — as his reason for not releasing any details.
Morphis and Terziu are “in the process of preparing a public statement that will outline the findings and rationale for the termination in order to ensure transparency, accountability, and public trust,” the resolution states.
The final “Whereas” of the resolution concludes that, pursuant to state statute, the city manager, with concurrence of the council, “may inform any person of the employment, nonemployment, promotion, demotion, suspension or other disciplinary action, reinstatement, transfer, or termination of a city employee and the reasons for that personnel action, provided that before releasing the information, the Council determines in writing that the release is essential to maintaining public confidence in the administration of city services.”
The resolution and documentation “shall become a part of the former employee’s personnel files, shall be retained in the office of the City Manager, and is a record available for public inspection,” the resolution concludes.
Morphis said the statement should be released within days.
NOTE: This story has been updated to add a word left out during transcription of the resolution. 10:37 p.m. 9-24-25.
NOTE: This story has been updated to correct that the allegation against the city manager was for sexual harassment, not sexual assault. 11:02 p.m. 9-24-25.
NOTE: This story has been updated to correct a typo. 11:25 p.m. 9-24-25.
