Fired Wilmington police officer to return to department with demotion

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington police officer will soon return to the job more than 16 months after he was fired.

WPD fired Curt Stansbury in February 2015. He said it was because he filed a hostile workplace complaint several months earlier. A month before Stansbury’s termination the city manager said there was not enough evidence to prove Stansbury’s complaint but admitted there was a “pattern of unprofessional behavior” and policy violations that needed to be addressed.

WPD said that it fired Stansbury for violating a number of policies, including violating standards of conduct, and abusing his position. In an interview with WWAY shortly after his dismissal, Stansbury did not dispute the allegations.

Stansbury appealed his firing to the Civil Service Commission, which determined Stansbury should be reinstated to the department as a corporal, which is a demotion from the rank of sergeant he held before he was fired, according to his attorney J. Michael McGuinness.

When reached this afternoon, Stansbury referred all questions to McGuinness.

“We are pleased that Curt Stansbury will be returning to service with the Wilmington Police Department following his hearing before the Wilmington Civil Service Commission,” McGuinness said in a statement. “Curt has served Wilmington since 1989 as a very successful and respected officer. Curt has experienced significant medical problems in recent years and is now well, and is enthused about returning to service. Curt will be returning as a corporal, and he very much looks forward to resuming his law enforcement career. Curt will be fully supporting the department and the citizens.”

A WPD spokeswoman said she could only confirm that Stansbury has a reinstatement date of June 27.

A city spokeswoman said she could not confirm what rank or salary Stansbury would receive when he returns. She did say that Stansbury was making $65,061.36 annually when he was terminated on Feb. 16, 2015. Stansbury started with the department in August 1989.