Rev. [Keith] Ogden, where have you been for the past two months? [“Ogden: Two Officers Drive False Narrative about Chief of Police,” Dec. 10 Letters to the Editor, Xpress]
William Anderson denied that there was a reprimand in Lt. Bill Wilkie’s file, and that was proven untrue. Lt. Mark Byrd advised that the radar equipment had not been certified. William Anderson denied knowledge of this oversight only to have it proven that he was in a meeting where this was discussed.
Unfortunately, racism still exists, but even more unfortunate is that you, a minister, were the first to throw out the race card.
Racisim is a two-way street, and until we as individuals change our attitude about people because of their skin color, religion, etc., nothing will change. You feel that all of the complaints are racially motivated, but how do you explain the African-Americans who were included in the “APD 44” [forty-four city police officers who signed a petition earlier this year saying they lack confidence in department leaders] and the resignations of several African-American officers?
William Anderson, by denying the obvious and attempting to cover up misdeeds, only added to the problems within APD. His track record in Deland, Fla., and Greenville, N.C., indicates that he lacked the necessary leadership qualities needed. This has absolutely nothing to do with the color of his skin.
Rev. Ogden, you are entitled to your opinion. You have more to gain by teaching us to love one another, as God has said, and above all to respect one another regardless of our skin color.
Brenda Webber
Asheville
Let us not forget how Anderson interferred with his son’s traffic violation, then attempted to coerce Lt. Wilkie to lie to the SBI about it. For that alone, he should have been fired and indicted.
Unfortunately, this info came out at a somewhat staged event that Cecil Bothwell had a part in. I sympathize with Rev. Ogden and Bothwell’s desire to make public their input into what happened to the Police Chief, but he was already gone and this press conference which I do not think was open to the public served as a diversion from issues people have been bringing up at recent protests like police brutality, economic inequality in hiring at the APD and AFD and in downtown Asheville, systemic racism and other important issues that should have been addressed but were not at least ifyou read the news reports. I suggest organizing another meeting OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and announced well in advance to discuss all the issues and not be limited to a debate over the Police Chief who is gone.