Is there a fix for what outgoing Greenville Police Chief calls "Powder Keg" environment?

GREENVILLE, N.C. - A couple of sharply worded emails between the mayor of Greenville and it's outgoing police chief about crime downtown are stirring up a lot of questions like is there a way to fix what Chief William Anderson calls, "an out of control powder keg environment" in downtown?

And is this why the chief is leaving?

In his email to the mayor and city council, outgoing police chief William Anderson says, "the department has taken several steps and implemented numerous plans" to address the problems downtown. 

Besides the "powder keg" comment, twice he calls downtown out of control, saying that the problem downtown is "bigger than the police department" and for change they will need the help of city council to "address this dangerous situation."  

The chief adds, if what they have been doing downtown wasn't working "there would have been a lot more bodies to clean up."

In response, Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas said, "If we are going to get serious about solutions we have to first get real about what is required."

He says that blocking off the streets are "literally creating a carnival like atmosphere" that is "attractive to people with bad intentions,” adding, “We've tried the current way and it is not clearly meeting your intentions.  Therefore it is time to try something different."    

9 On Your Side contacted the police department today and the spokesperson said Chief Anderson would not be commenting.

We also contacted Mayor Thomas and he said he would not be commenting further about the letter saying he did last night at a city council meeting.

At that meeting Mayor Thomas had this to say about the interim Greenville police chief, “Chief Bartlet's done a great job and it's been a wonderful, refreshing relationship the past few weeks and we appreciate your leadership.”

9 On Your Side was able to talk with city council member Marion Blackburn in person about the emails and the crime downtown. While she liked the chief's email, she feels the crime situation in Greenville could be why he has taken the chief of police position in Asheville.

“I can't speak for the chief, I know Asheville is a beautiful place, who wouldn't want to live there?  At the same time I think if you look at this email that he sent you will find a lot of clues as to why he may be leaving.  He's got as what he describes as a powder keg and what clearly is an unsustainable situation downtown. And I think at some point he felt like he wasn't getting the support he needed to do what he needed to do downtown,” said Blackburn.

Both the chief and the mayor in their emails acknowledged the need for change.

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GREENVILLE, N.C. - In a heated email from departing Greenville Police Chief William Anderson tells Mayor Thomas downtown is an out of control, powder keg environment.

Police Chief Anderson email to the mayor, said police managed to avoid "another downtown tragedy" last Thursday.

When they apprehended a gunman and stopped a shooting during a fight.

He said the downtown area has become "out of control" and police can't fix it alone.

He noted it was discouraging to hear city council members say what police are doing is not working.

He said, if police had not been doing their jobs, in his words, “There would have been a lot more bodies to clean up.”

He added, the council needs to appreciate the work they're doing.

In a response, mayor Allan Thomas agreed there was a major problem, but added "one thing is clear, we've tried the current way and it clearly is not meeting your expectations therefore it's time to try something different."

"We’re left with the results, police chiefs come and go, city managers will come and go but we here represent the citizens of Greenville,” said Allen Thomas.

City manager Wayne Bowers apologized for the manner in which the chief's concerns were addressed.

"I believe his heart was in the right place I think he believes very strongly about how the work is being done buy the police department downtown but there was probably a better way to do that,” said Bowers.

The mayor says they just want to move forward.

"We want to stick beside our officers and make this the best community we can,” said Thomas.