HAMLET — State law enforcement is looking into documents related to the Seaboard City’s former police chief.
According to the SBI, District Attorney Jamie Adams has asked the agency to review documents involving former chief Dennis Brown, who hasn’t been employed with the Hamlet Police Department since late July.
There is currently no formal investigation, according to an agency spokesman, and the nature of any possible crimes has not been disclosed.
Once the documents have been reviewed, the SBI will meet with the DA to determine if the situation warrants a formal investigation, the spokesman said.
Brown has been separated from the department since July 23, according to City Manager John Terziu. Major Hudson Chitwood also left the department.
The RO sent a public records request on June 24 for "a copy of the written notice of the final decision ...setting forth the specific acts or omissions that are the basis of the dismissal," per the statute regarding the release of personnel records of government employees.
However, Terziu denied the request citing “ongoing internal and external investigations,” but never said what the investigations pertained to.
On July 30, Rachel Van Camp, an attorney representing Brown, issued a statement saying the lawman was “now in a position where he is forced to defend his integrity and against allegations that are false and baseless.”
Still, the nature of the allegations was not disclosed.
“We anticipate that information will be brought to light soon that will provide the community with a more accurate and thorough understanding of the circumstances surrounding the separation of Chief Brown’s employment with the City of Hamlet and look forward to exposing the truth,” Van Camp concluded in her statement.
James Carsto was appointed interim chief upon Brown’s departure and he was sworn in on Aug. 5.
