Lumberton officials are still in the process of searching for a new chief to head up the city’s police department after former chief Adam Jones handed in his resignation late last year.
Ward 3 Alderman Jonathan Griffith said he is aware of three individuals who have submitted applications for the position: Chris Brumfield, Chris Franklin and Daniel Wilczek. Griffith said he was made aware by another alderperson of the desire to recently have a special-called meeting to discuss the matter, but that meeting failed to happen.
“For some reason, we didn’t have the meeting,” he said. “I’m guessing they will present the applications (at a later date).”
Jones resigned from the position in November 2019, making him the fourth chief to leave that seat in a two-year period. In his resignation letter, Jones said several false allegations had been made against him, but no investigation was conducted and he was never given a reason for the allegations.
“I refuse to be belittled in a professional capacity when my excellent job performance supersedes me,” the letter stated. “I was never written up by my first line supervisor, Mayor Quincy Rogers, nor given a written letter of reprimand by him.
“It has been a pleasure working for the City of Lumberton, and I pray that one day this city can prosper and move forward under the right leadership. Thanks for the opportunity and I wish you all well.”
Shortly after the resignation letter was handed in, Griffith said that he had been largely kept out of the loop on the details of Jones’ resignation, but that Jones was given the choice to resign or be terminated. That ultimatum was made unanimously at a November board meeting, although Griffith said he was not given all the information pertaining to the matter.
Rogers did not return calls regarding the search for a new chief.
The revolving door of Lumberton’s police chief goes back to March of last 2018, when then-chief Shane Flynt resigned after a video surfaced of him reportedly smoking marijuana. His successor, Carlus Page, was soon after removed as chief and re-classified as a police officer.
Larry Allen was then named chief, but resigned shortly after, and Jones was sworn in as chief in May 2019.
Sgt. Philipe Ducksworth was named as interim police chief after Jones’ resignation.
