WLOSers caught on to the story of a consultant’s critical report of the Asheville Police Department on Monday, as Holly Headrick stood outside APD to give us the details.
Holly said the report was a “scathing” indictment of the department’s treatment of black officers and of its relationship with the black community in Ashvegas. The consultant, Anthony Franklin, did diversity training for APD, then wrote up a report that the city requested. That report caused the city to launch an internal investigation into the department.
Chief Bill Hogan told Holly that he was frustrated and disappointed with the report. He said Franklin never interviewed him or the department’s leadership team. Hogan said the report was one-sided. Holly reported that city manager Gary Jackson requested the report.
At the end of her segment at 6, Holly said Franklin had been terminated from the organization he had been contracting with to do such diversity workshops. She promised more at 11.
At 11, Holly had more quotes from Hogan, more details about what the report said, and quotes from John Hayes, the head of the local branch of the NAACP. Hayes said the report says exactly what his organization has been complaining about for years. Hayes said that he met with police officials and Mayor Terry Bellamy to ask why a number of people were getting promoted, but none were black. The consultant’s report said black officers felt “disrespected” and weren’t applying for promotion. Hogan answered that he’s worked hard to hire and promote black officers.