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Politics & Government

NAACP Criticizes Investigator's Response to Officer's Complaint

The township-hired investigator's response concerns a Lower Merion police officer's allegations of racial discrimination.

A paralegal representing the NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference went before the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners on Wednesday night and said her organization is dissatisfied with a township-hired private investigator’s response to a from a Lower Merion police officer who accused the board and the Lower Merion Police Department of discrimination regarding promotions.

Township Police Officer Kerry Godbold publicly accused the police department and the Board of Commissioners of discrimination this spring concerning promotion practices, and questioned why a recent Civil Service list, which would have given him the opportunity for a promotion to sergeant, was allowed to expire.

In response to the allegation, the Board of Commissioners hired a private company to investigate the Police Department’s recruitment, hiring and promotional procedures.

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Diana Robertson, the NAACP paralegal, said Godbold had received a copy of the response from the private investigator, but said it was  “inadequate and actually an insult."

“Therefore, the State Conference is requesting a copy of the complete report as submitted by the investigator to the township,” Robertson said. Godbold was present at the meeting but did not speak publically.

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Robertson said the NAACP is also requesting a letter from Board of Commissioners President Liz Rogan, addressing the board’s response to Godbold's specific questions and allegations.

“We appreciate this consideration as the NAACP State Conference does take this matter very seriously,” Robertson said, adding that she wanted to note that the private investigator hired by the township was also reviewing the Police Department as a whole.

“Once again, those investigations mean nothing unless the township is sincere in seeking truths as to the practices within the Police Department,” Robertson said.

The department "is under investigation and we’re not going to be able to get back to you until we have the results of the investigation,” Rogan reponded.

Commissioner Jenny Brown said she did not think there was a full report as Robertson had requested, but she encouraged her to contact the investigator and try to schedule a meeting to discuss the matter.

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