NAACP calls for Salisbury PD chief's resignation

SALISBURY, N.C. — Pastors and residents in Salisbury joined the NAACP on Tuesday in calling for an end to what they say is police misconduct.
 
The group said there have been several complaints over the past few months about excessive force by Salisbury Police Department officers.
 
"Today we are calling for Chief Collins' resignation," said NAACP president Scott Teamer.
 
He made that bold request saying complaints against officers have gone unanswered and Collins should be held accountable.
 
He said within the past few months about 15 complaints have come into his office and he said many involved the same officer.
 
The Rev. Bill Godear of Cornerstone Church said between June and July five different families at the church have come to him with complaints about excessive force by SPD officers.
 
He said even he has been a victim.
 
They wouldn't go into details about the alleged incidents, but said something must be done by the city.  
 
"I refuse to sit back and not do anything or say anything."
 
Eyewitness News asked SPD how many specific complaints it has received this year.
 
The chief wouldn't answer but sent a statement saying, "The police department takes these complaints seriously and investigates 100 percent of them."
 
The NAACP also called for the city to create a citizens review board to address public complaints. They said if it's not created, they would ask state lawmakers to intervene.

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