Capitol Police chief denies wrongdoing

Raleigh, N.C. — One day after he and a sergeant under his command were placed on leave during an internal investigation, the acting chief of the State Capitol Police said Monday that he didn't do anything to warrant the suspension.

"I did nothing wrong," Antonio Asion said.

Secretary of Public Safety Kieran Shanahan placed Asion and Sgt. Benjamin Franklin on investigatory placement, or paid leave, saying he had "serious concerns about certain practices involving secondary employment."

Asion said the investigation has nothing to do with him doing off-duty work, but he declined to comment further because of the ongoing investigation.

Like many other law enforcement agencies, the State Capitol Police allow officers to provide security for businesses and events while off duty to earn extra money.

The State Capitol Police provide security to employees and visitors at state-owned properties in downtown Raleigh. A separate police force, the General Assembly police, is responsible for security at the Legislative Building and the legislative office building and for legislative leaders when they travel.

Maj. William Gray of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol has been named acting chief of the State Capitol Police during the investigation.

Asion joined the State Bureau of Investigation two years ago and was named deputy chief of the State Capitol Police last August. He became acting chief last fall following the death of Chief Scott Hunter.

Franklin has worked with the State Capitol Police since May 1994. His annual salary is $45,502.

22 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 22 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments.

Latest Comments

Maybe Shanahan should investigate why some state law enforcement agencies permit their officers to do off-duty security work while others entirely prohibit it. A level playing field would be nice.-pinehorse

Maybe because it's not a crime. Every Chief has discretion as to whether he allows secondary employment or not. Most do because LEO pay is low and they need it to survive.

Duke _Nukem
February 5, 2013 2:59 p.m.

If you not gonna tell why they were suspended, what is the purpose of this making the news?

ginufine3011
February 5, 2013 9:59 a.m.

The Sgt in this case must have been demoted for something prior. Why does he have captains bars on his collar if he is a Sgt?

Mr Davis
February 5, 2013 9:01 a.m.

What bothers me is the investigation is about employees that get paid through tax dollars and nobody at this point will reveal what it is about. I can understand if it involved something such as National security, but I hardly belive State Capitol Police fall into that category. Not saying anything makes me belive it may be political in nature. The citizens of North Carolina at minimum deserve to know the reasons for the investigation.

rhess2
February 4, 2013 6:58 p.m.

All I know is if I were accused of doing something I didn't do I'd be scared as heck knowing that people like those that judge before even knowing what the charge may be are out here with their pitchforks and torches. Have we even really evolved from the times of the Salem witch trials or the medieval ages?

uh huh dats right
February 4, 2013 6:53 p.m.