Is Chief Evangelous dodging reporters?

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Is the police chief dodging reporters? The chief wouldn’t talk with us on camera again Thursday night. Spokeswoman Linda Rawley said the chief had an eye injury and didn’t want to go on camera.

Chief Ralph Evangelous spoke to the crowd at a community meeting though. WWAY reporters have tried to no avail to speak with the chief since he pulled out of the running for the top spot in the city of Savannah.

We want to know more about his decision to stay in Wilmington and what happened with the other position. He keeps referring us to a statement he issued.

Instead, we were referred to his deputy chief. So, we asked him about Evangelous, why he had been the face of the department for the past month while the chief interviewed for a new position, and whether he thought people were concerned about that.

“I don’t have any comment on that, because I don’t know, and this is only my second interview in the last 45 days,” said Deputy Chief Marshall Williamson.

Since Chief Evangelous went for his interview in Savannah, we have gotten no comment from him, and we’ve been denied several times when asking him for an interview. Deputy Chief Williamson has given us one statement and two interviews in that time.

Spokeswoman Linda Rawley said they are trying to get more of their officers out in the public eye. She said that is why the chief hasn’t been doing as many interviews lately. We don’t know when exactly the chief will be available to answer these questions we have.