Reed departs amid concerns over the department’s future

Washington police Chief Glenn “Mick” Reed is as worried about the future of the Washington Police Department — perhaps more so — as he is with his future.

Reed has resigned from the chief’s job, with that resignation taking effect Feb. 29.

“Probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my professional career,” Reed said when asked about writing his resignation letter. “The men and women of the Washington Police Department are a very, very special family. When I arrived in 2007, we had some serious challenges. Writing that letter was starting the process of closing that door. I don’t deny that’s a very, very difficult thing to do.”

“There are some things in the works. There are things that are in the process. I’m really not comfortable providing any more detail at this time. As soon as something is definite, I’ll let you know,” Reed said when asked what opportunities might await him after he leaves his current position.

Reed said failure to secure a new police station for the department is among his frustrations encountered since becoming chief in 2007.

“I will always see it as my obligation to fight for the men and women who work under my direction. I wish circumstances were different relating to our facility situation. There will always be decisions that I will look back on. If you don’t have an ego and you are sincere, sincerely understand that you are human, you don’t expect to be perfect. I’m very hard on myself. I guess probably the most frustrating single component is our facility situation, but I fully realize that there are a lot of circumstances that come into that situation, whether it’s budgetary or economical, national economy or whatever,” Reed said. “There will always be plenty of room for improvement for our performance.”

“Mick was a great asset to this community. I have worked with him on projects, and he has always displayed a professional attitude,” said George Schryer, a retiree who helped organize a visit to Washington by the “Wall That Heals,” a half-scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Washington resident Gerald Seighman is not surprised Reed is leaving the department to seek other opportunities.

“If you look at all the facts, some members of the City Council wanted to outsource the police department,” he said. “You can’t blame the man for wanting to leave. … When that happened, I’m sure that’s when the chief started looking.”

Seighman, who has a son who is a corporal on the department, said Reed was instrumental in helping improve police protection in the city and helping lower the crime rate since taking over as chief. On his lawn, Seighman has a sign that reads: “Outsource the City Council, not the police department.”

In early 2011, Councilman Doug Mercer spoke with then-Chief Deputy Harry Meredith with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office about collecting preliminary budget and staffing numbers concerning the sheriff’s office taking over policing duties in the city. In remarks to the Down East Republicans in February 2011, Mercer, citing numbers provided by Meredith, said moving to a more county-driven approach to policing would save the city around $1.1 million a year.

The city has not outsourced policing duties.

Several times Reed has advocated keeping the city’s E-911 service at the police department instead of letting Beaufort County take over that service. During a priorities-setting session in December, the City Council said making a decision about E-911 service is an immediate financial priority.

Councilman Bobby Roberson also is not surprised Reed resigned.

“I mean when a guy starts looking, he’s not happy,” Roberson said Thursday. “It’s just like (former City Manager) Jim Smith when he was applying. He was applying everywhere. He was at Jacksonville. He was in New Bern. The chief has been applying for the past seven or eight months. It’s an indication to me he’s not happy. I didn’t have to deal with him. He’s got to deal with the manager. He’s got to make him happy. I don’t know what went on there, but I do know he wasn’t happy. He wasn’t happy because of the 911 setup. He wasn’t happy because we didn’t jump in there and build a new police station. He felt like he got the runaround on that. So, I understand why he stepped up and resigned.”

Asked if he believes if there is an environment that Reed became uncomfortable with, Roberson said, “I will just say I think he was disappointed with some things that happened, and that, you know, obviously there are some things in the organization that I’m not aware of, that there were some things he felt like should have gone in a different direction. I don’t know that for a fact. … As a public employee you start applying for jobs, it’s going to come back. Unfortunately, that’s what happened.”

Roberson praised Reed’s work as police chief.

“Oh, I was pleased with what he did,” he said. “He did (Project) Next Step. His record proves that. I mean, he was awarded … a state award for (Project) Next Step. Every thing I looked at says he improved the situation when he came in, there’s no question about that.”

Reed acknowledges he’s had his share of critics while in Washington, adding he’s always open to constructive criticism.

Asked if he believes the department and its personnel have received the recognition they deserve from the city’s elected officials, Reed said, “It is never my place to question our governing body. Nor is it my place to comment regarding our governing body. Until I am told otherwise, I answer to Mr. Kay. I am very comfortable with keeping that … There is no department head that will ever be completely satisfied with the tools that he or she is provided with. Other than my obligation to represent the men and women of the Washington Police Department, I am very comfortable allowing Mr. Kay to provide any opinions as to our governing body.”

Reed was asked to discuss the department’s accomplishments since he became its chief.

“That’s going to be tough. One of the things that I am most proud of … this agency has completely changed the way that municipal law enforcement was being done,” Reed said. “I am absolutely convinced (that) with the last five years we, we will never be content with our results, but our relationship with our community, our statistical signs of progress, our recognition at the state level — when you have the director of the Governor’s Crime Commission speak to the N.C. (Association of Chiefs of Police) and specify Washington Police Department in particular for positive work. I’m very proud of the things we have been able to do, in general. I’m proud of the fact that in every measurable category we have shown a successful direction, but never completely satisfied. But our statistical success and our relationship with our community are probably, I guess, is the best I can do as far as narrowing down this agency’s success.”

Reed offered a few words of advice for the next chief.

“I would very quickly say that, ‘You will be well taken care of. Trust the people who are here.’ I’m not arrogant enough to provide any advice other than that to whomever is involved. I truly, deeply believe this is a very, very special community and the men and women of this department are very, very special. They need to be supported and recognized.”