There’s been an update on the town of Kenly, sort of. No report yet. Their entire police force quit at the same time over the “toxic” environment the new rabidly progressive Town Manager brought in with her. Fed up with the outrageous ideas of Justine Jones, on July 22, Police Chief Josh Gibson turned in his badge. Every other officer on their tiny force did the same. So did two town clerks.
Kenly wants a report
Citizens of the town of Kenly, North Carolina were promised an investigation report. An “outside agency” has been investigating the claim made against Justine Jones which “was supposed to wrap up at the end of the week that began August 8.” They’re sitting on it.
Probably because they found out she really did create such a toxic environment it forced the entire police force to quit. Local residents are not happy at all.
Gil Lugo has been running Lugo Tires and Road Service in Kenly on the same corner since 2015. He “invested in his business and wants it to be safe.” That is something which “he questions now after the town no longer has a police force.”
The entire police force quit after a black woman was hired as the town manager in Kenly, North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/3qmM7lN8gN
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) July 26, 2022
His exact words were “we really need some cops.” Former employee Thomas Hargis was hanging out when reporters dropped by on Monday, August 22. He agreed completely.
“Well, we need some more security like the police. The Johnston County Sheriff’s Department is doing a good job. The state troopers are doing a good job. But it’s not the same as if we had like, people, the police in town,” Hargis observed.
Kenly may be small but they still need cops handy. Lugo notes his shop “has security measures in place such as video surveillance, but the team at Lugo’s wants a police department.” Hargis adds “If it ain’t nothing but one, two, three of them, you know.”
Still waiting on investigation
Town Attorney Chip Hewett answered an email by explaining they’re “still waiting on the investigation.” Outsiders have been trying to paint the Kenly police as a bunch of racists and Jones swears up and down the report will justify her actions.
The more time that goes by without that happening indicates that maybe Ms. Jones is the one who’s prejudiced. Against police.
“It doesn’t matter if there’s 200 people here or 2 million people here. We need a police department,” declares Kenly resident Amanda Chestnut. She was out grocery shopping, along with her daughter, when reporters caught up with her. It’s a different town, she notes.
“Ever since the police department quit, it’s been a change in the community, you can tell as the presence has really changed. For the better for worse, we don’t know, yet we can definitely tell there has been a change.”
Ms. Chestnut also agrees that they “have the deputy sheriffs patrolling the town, they have been making their presence known throughout the community. So, that has put us at ease somewhat, but you just won’t get the same presence, like having a chief that was here for so many years.”
So far, the town of Kenly hasn’t had much luck trying to fill any of the open positions. Resident Jesse Locklear fears some people “will see this as an opportunity.” He knows “people are going to do a lot more because they know they can get away with it.“
