by Johanna Thatch Special to the NNPA from The Wilmington Journal WILMINGTON, N.C. (NNPA)—Although charges of driving under the influence have been dismissed against Mayor Pro Tem Katherine Moore, members of the African-American community are pressing for an investigation of the circumstances and the Wilmington police officers who made the “false” arrest. The recent release of recordings of the police radio conversations during the Nov. 6 incident indicate that the arrest may have been a set up when one officer dispatched another and instructed him to find Moore’s vehicle and “blue light” her before she arrived at her home in Echo Farms. Moore has alleged that she was a victim of racial profiling at its worst when she was charged with driving under the influence despite the fact she blew a .00 on the breathalyzer following her arrest. She alleges that she was a victim of racial profiling at its worst and that she was denied the test at the time of her arrest. In response to the controversy, a group of concerned citizens from the African-American community seized the opportunity to express their concerns before city council during its recent meeting. Community activist Ali Kaazim told council members that the transcripts, which were comparable to a “horror movie” many in the minority community. “We saw a scenario where Ms. Moore is being monitored citywide, countywide, area-wide…When we have people reporting back to the police on the activities of a private [citizen], that’s an alarming event,” he said. “We in the community feel that the police department should be about law and order, and yet and still, we still have officers who disrespect the law to the degree that they will take the law into their own hands and do what they want to do with the law. It is time for us to have a change. I hope that this city council today will pass a resolution to make available all material in this case. I also think that it is time for us to bring an outside agency in to investigate the WPD…” Stating that some police officers in Wilmington possess a cowboy mentality, he demanded, “If Chief [John] Cease can’t control his men, then we need to find another chief.” Richard Irving, president of the local chapter of National Action Network, agreed that the Wilmington police Department (WPD) “overstepped its bounds” when they “tracked” Moore down like a “criminal.” He presented the council a petition with 400 signatures of supporters asking that the city council direct the city manager to investigate the events leading up to and including the “false” arrest of Moore; direct the district attorney to direct the SBI to investigate the arrest and prosecute any officers and supervisors in the WPD, as well as the Wrightsville Police Department, who are found to have committed criminal acts; direct the elimination of all activity designed to entrap Moore, including unwarranted surveillance and harassment; and that any officers in both departments found guilty of wrongdoing be punished accordingly. Irving also asked that a resolution be passed to make public the results of the investigation. With hopes of finding closure, Mayor Harper Peterson read a memo from City Manager Sterling Cheatam. “The police department has completed its factual investigation of the driving while impaired charges involving Mrs. Moore… A report of the investigation has been forwarded to the district attorney’s office,” the statement said. “The police department is evaluating the results of the investigation to determine if there are any violations for policies or procedures. The recommendations for action regarding council’s approval will be made at your meeting on Dec 10…” He then went on to express his personal feelings about the case. “Obviously there is a great concern to the entire community. There is a history here, and we do have to respect policy and procedure in investigating this. And we do rely on our city manager, our police chief, the internal affairs division of the police department to do a factual and speedy investigation.” Mayor Peterson also emphasized the need for an independent review of the police department’s policy and procedure in order to “erase the perception” of wrongdoing and racial profiling. “A report, I think again, is needed… I think the entire community—regardless of race—needs information,” Peterson said. “We need to understand what is happening with one of our service departments in this community. I ask Mrs. Moore, her family, her friends, her supporters to please be patient. We will seek out justice on this…” When asked to respond, Moore echoed the feelings of Irving and Kaazim, proposing that the findings of the investigation be made public information because of a “lack of confidence” in the police department. District Attorney John Carriker, issued a statement announcing the dismissal of the charges against Moore. “After reviewing the Wilmington Police Report delivered the District Attorney’s office on Nov. 18, which contained interviews with all law-enforcement officers having knowledge of the case and all civilians having direct knowledge of the case of State vs. Katherine Moore, there is insufficient evident that Katherine Moore was impaired by alcohol or any other substance in this case for the state to proceed… The State takes a voluntary dismissal in the charge of driving while impaired in State vs. Katherine Moore.” However, Moore and her supporters intend to pursue further investigation until they receive satisfactory response about the officers’ behavior that night. Richard Irving ,after hearing that Carriker dismissed the charges against Moore, stated, “Dropping the false charges against Mayor Pro Tem Katherine Moore does not relieve the WPD from explaining how the WPD came to falsely charge her in the first place. The National Action Network is pleased that the charges were dropped but still enraged that a citizen can be targeted in the manner that Mrs. Moore has been targeted and harassed over the years. The Irving family beating and the Harrison shooting are also illustrations of the WPD operating as loose cannons in the community.” The petitions calling for an investigation will be given to city council. Meanwhile, community organizations and residents marched on Dec. 10, 2002, and rallied at City Hall before entering council chambers to present their petitions. When asked what is next for her, Mrs. Moore said, “I am still in the state of disbelief that in the year 2002, that law abiding citizens can be targeted for arrest without any probable cause.” She concluded, “The results of the investigation must be made public. The citizens have a right to know.”

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