Pubdate: Sat, 05 Mar 2005
Source: News & Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2005 The News and Observer Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.news-observer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/304
Author: Kayce T. Ataiyero
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

TESTIMONY PAINTS HARSH PICTURE

Retired Deputy Describes Repression In Chatham Sheriff's Office

PITTSBORO -- Testimony in the wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a 
former Chatham County sheriff's deputy painted a portrait of an 
organization that quashed dissent in the ranks and retaliated against those 
who spoke out against wrongdoing.

Former Sgt. Dan Phillips is suing former Sheriff Ike Gray for wrongful 
termination. Phillips contends he was fired in 2001 for alerting the FBI 
about the theft of marijuana from the old county landfill.

Phillips also contends he was fired because of his attempt to expose racism 
in the Chatham County schools. He said sheriff's officials suspected he 
made a tape recording of a former high school principal using racial slurs, 
something he denied during testimony Friday.

Gray has said he fired Phillips for insubordination.

Phillips, who joined the department in 1996, said he was out of work for 
two years after being fired. He said he tried unsuccessfully to get 
numerous law enforcement jobs. Phillips now works as an animal control 
officer in Lee County.

Phillips' lawsuit sheds light on the theft of about 4,000 pounds of 
marijuana that was stolen from a surplus Army truck parked behind the 
Sheriff's Office. An additional 1,000 pounds was later taken from the 
landfill. The drugs, which had a street value of $5 million, had been 
seized in February 2000 during an undercover sting.

Ronnie Collins, a member of the Chatham County school board, testified for 
the plaintiff and supported Phillips' claim that he was unjustly let go. 
Collins said he told Gray to drop the internal affairs investigation into 
who made the tape because it was a school personnel matter that should not 
be handled by the Sheriff's Office.

Collins testified that Phillips was the main target of that investigation.

"[Gray] told me he was under tremendous pressure to find out who made the 
tape and [to] punish them," he said. "I asked him if he was looking at Dan, 
and he said yes."

Former Deputy David Seagroves, who was also investigated in connection with 
the tape, testified that when he spoke up about racist incidents at Chatham 
Central High School, he was told by sheriff's officials not to get 
involved. He also testified that sheriff's officials were focusing their 
internal investigation on Phillips.

Seagroves said he retired in 2001 after 24 years with the Sheriff's Office 
out of fear that he was going to lose his job.

"I felt like my job was uncertain, and it [weighed] on my soul for months 
and months. I couldn't sleep. I would wake up in the middle of the night, 
walk outside and just holler," he said.

On cross-examination, Seagroves testified that he was not privy to the 
circumstances of Phillips' firing. He also said he was not demoted or 
disciplined in any way before his retirement as a result of the internal 
affairs investigation.

The trial is scheduled to resume Monday.
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