Fired WPD officer speaks out

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The police chief responds to the firing of a longtime member of the Wilmington Police Department. Curt Stansbury says he was fired Monday after he filed a complaint about a hostile work environment with the city last summer.

“I’m not mad that I got fired. I’m almost glad because now I can bring out the truth in what is going on,” said Stansbury.

He said he feels frustrated with the way the department is headed and made his opinions clear. The department says they terminated him for violating a number of policies including violating standards of conduct, and abusing his position.

“I’ve admitted to doing most of those things. I have. I never denied doing most of those things it is just a matter of the perspective you have on it,” said Stansbury.

A month ago the city manager said there wasn’t enough evidence to prove Stansbury’s complaint but admitted there was a “pattern of unprofessional behavior,” and policy violations that needed to be addressed.

Chief Ralph Evangelous responded to the firing Tuesday with a written statement.

“I am not going to comment on either Sgt. Stansbury’s termination or the City Manager’s letter or statement about Sgt. Stansbury’s prior complaint to Human Resources, other then to say that I am aware of the concerns raised by Sgt. Stansbury in the complaint he filed with the Human Resources department,” Evangelous said. “Any actions taken by the WPD in response to those concerns would be a part of the personnel files of the other officers involved, so I cannot provide any information regarding the specifics of those concerns, the names of any of the other officers, or the outcomes of any additional investigations that may or may not have been done. With regard to Sgt. Stansbury’s termination, he has the right to appeal to the Civil Service Commission and all issues surrounding his termination can be addressed in that forum.”

Stansbury is appealing his termination to the civil service commission.