Race Report Author: I Left It At Home

Fayetteville police have been waiting for nearly five months for a report on allegations of racism in the department. On March 24, the City Council hired a consultant to check out those allegations and expected to hear the findings in a meeting Monday night, but it didn't. 

Council members hired Cincinnati civil rights attorney Cheryl Grant to investigate allegations of discrimination by the police chief from three officers. Grant was hired for the sum of $50,000 to conduct a two-month study, the results of which would be released at the council meeting. But Grant arrived just before 9:30 p.m., two hours late to the meeting, and she arrived without her report. 

Council members put off a meeting two weeks ago in order to hear the report Monday night because the written report was not available. The meeting started at 7 p.m. Monday and broke up in less than 15 minutes because Grant was late. 

Grant picked up her rental car at RDU just before 5 p.m. She said she didn't realize the file was missing until she was on the road, but she didn't call the Fayetteville city manager until almost 7:30 p.m. She said she didn't call because she couldn't find a telephone. 

Council members were very upset with the situation. 

Grant offered to make her report verbally, but council members didn't want to hear it. She has promised to have the written draft ready for the council at 2 p.m. Tuesday. The council will reconvene the meeting at 5 p.m. to discuss the issue.