The State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to conduct a probe into an incident that led to a Hope Mills Police Department officer’s suspension, the town announced Friday.
According to a news release, Major Bradley Rountree’s leave is tied to an investigation “regarding an incident” that occurred at the police department on Dec. 12. The town did not provide further details and declined to comment further “given that this is a personnel matter,” the release said.
Town records show that Rountree was hired March 1 as a police captain and was promoted to major Sept. 1. In a records request partially fulfilled Thursday, the town only listed Rountree’s promotion when asked for all promotions, demotions, transfers, suspensions, separations or other changes in position. Rountree earns $75,000, having earned a $10,000 pay raise when he was promoted to major, according to the records.
The Board of Commissioners went into closed session for two hours on Monday night, CityView previously reported.
Commissioner Bryan Marley said Friday that he was not aware of the specifics of the investigation because it was a personnel matter. The Board of Commissioners was informed of the incident on Monday night, he said.
“Any time they put an employee on administrative leave and there’s going to be an investigation done, they always just give us a heads-up and let us know that much,” Marley said.
Mayor Jessie Bellflowers said that he did not know when Rountree was placed on administrative leave, but confirmed that the incident was shared with the board on Monday.
Mayor Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray said Friday she could not comment on personnel issues.
Commissioners Elyse Craver and Joanne Scarola and the State Bureau of Investigation did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
Lexi Solomon can be reached at lsolomon@cityviewnc.com or 910-423-6500.
