In an afternoon press conference, Weinberger also said that Deputy Chief Jan Wright has been placed on paid administrative leave as the city’s investigation into her social media use continues.
“We’re trying to get it done as quickly as possible,” Weinberger said. “We’re close, but it’s not complete.”
The news is the latest on the social media scandal that has enveloped the department in recent days. On Monday, Chief Brandon del Pozo resigned after admitting to creating an anonymous Twitter account to troll Burlington resident Charles Winkleman in July. Weinberger named Wright acting chief but replaced her hours later after she admitted to creating an anonymous Facebook profile under the name “Lori Spicer” to engage department critics.
Morrison was the Burlington department’s first female deputy chief and retired from the agency after 23 years of service in 2013, and she became chief of the Colchester Police Department. Morrison retired from that post in 2018 and does not intend to apply for the permanent chief position, she said.
Weinberger also announced that the city has retained “workplace expert” Anita Tinney of the Philadelphia area-based Employee and Labor Relations Academy to review the police department’s overall social media practices. Her work will begin January 3, the mayor said.
The city council’s Human Resources Committee will convene in January to review a draft social media policy, which is in effect until the document is formally approved, Weinberger said.
“I’m fully confident in the department’s ability to make it through this rough patch,” he said, “and I hope the people of the department and the public sees the announcements today as important steps towards completing that transition.”
Morrison echoed the mayor’s optimistic tone, saying that this scandal doesn’t define the department.
“This is a world-class police agency,” she said. “Do not lose sight of that.”
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Don’t look behind the curtain Everything will be OK.
She was chief in Colchester when that officer was caught stealing from the evidence room, so she’s a good choice to get things in order. https://www.mynbc5.com/article/former-colc…
and our next lucky contestant on “Chief For a Day” is . . .
The BPD needs more than a social media consultant. How about a communication specialist, to help the officers with how to talk to the press – – someone like Jon Lovitz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdb3qGSjkt…
Think we can get Mayor Kiss back?
Courtney:
There are screen shots on the Facebook link to this story demonstrating that Morrison followed “Lori Spicer” on social media. Please dig into this.
Also, who owns this account? Hmmmmmm. https://www.facebook.com/niro.darya
Hmmm, starting to get a little concerned at the direction this is taking. Yes Del Pozo should have admitted to the anonymous account when directly asked. Stupid, not illegal. And having read some of WInkelman’s unhinged screeds, kind of understandable. And now notoriously anti-cop Perri Freeman and Ali Dieng are going to dictate what officers get to post on their social media? Will officers be required to begin every post with an apology for being cops and close with a recitation of their sins? The Progs have very little to no respect for Constitutionally gauranteed individual rights, I expect the policy that results to bear the same stain.
As long as officers don’t pretend to speak for the department, what they do online is no one’s business but their own. If the council wants to pretend otherwise, let’s ensure that any resulting policy also applies to council members.
Some police departments use aliases to follow alleged people who are persons of interest in a crime..
“Think we can get Mayor Kiss back?”
No one wants Silent Bob back. And anyway, he’s not coming back from wherever he fled to, just to satisfy some people’s hippie nostalgia.
And by asking for Bob Kiss back you just lost another 100 votes for the Instant Prog Voting scheme.
This just in. ABC national news calls Burlington “scandal plagued city “. Even Kiss didn’t get that honor. And just think, the mayor r did it almost single handedly. Maybe the city attorney deserves honorable mention.
Gee Steve, it seems like you might have a chip on your shoulder. I wonder why?
@Patrick Cashman
Booted by Miro. Beaten by Miro. You are correct!
A world-class police agency? Puhlease.
Sarcasm. Look it up.
Oracle: Sarcasm is good, but in columns of comments, one cannot tell if someone is being sarcastic, facetious, or what-have-you. I think people mistake the intent of online messages all the time.
Happy new year!