PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The Portsmouth chapter of the NAACP is demanding answers after the city’s former police chief claims she was forced to resign.
The Portsmouth NAACP along with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) plan to approach Portsmouth City Council members regarding Tonya Chapman’s resignation at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
The city announced last week Chapman was resigning from her position after three years, and named Assistant Chief Angela Greene as interim chief.
Chapman issued a four-page letter Monday morning alleging City Manager Dr. L. Pettis Patton forced her to quit. She also cited race and politics as playing a role in her resignation.
That same day, the two groups made the call for citizen support during a news conference at the Confederate Monument in downtown Portsmouth.
James Boyd, president of the Portsmouth NAACP, spoke in support of Chapman and echoed her claims of systemic racism in the department.
City officials declined to discuss Chapman’s resignation last week, saying it was a personnel issue. There’s been no comment from council members, who’ve been warned not to talk because of possible litigation in the future.
However, the Portsmouth NAACP believes council members already said plenty. The activists stand behind Chapman, believing she truly tried to change the police department’s culture and embrace diversity.
“This department has continued to perpetuate systemic racism, but now as a branch we’ve come here to encourage our people,” Boyd said Monday. “Don’t fall behind the pen of a city manager pay attention to the power of those who yield it. Pay attention to those that put pressure on her to make a decision to remove the police chief here in the city of Portsmouth.”
10 On Your Side spoke with Former Councilman Mark Whitaker who expressed disappointment in Pettis Patton, calling her alleged actions egregious.
Whitaker said Chapman’s resignation was forced by council and the Fraternal Order of Police.
“There was no scientific survey done. This was purely the complaint of a few individuals who have access to the council and executed their desire,” Whitaker said.
The Portsmouth NAACP said Mayor John Rowe has a responsibility to the people of Portsmouth to explain why Chapman was removed. Both groups called on people to show up at the council meeting Tuesday.
“The only way that silence can be accepted if we don’t show up if we don’t raise our voices,” Boyd said. “Systemic racism is not going to be allowed here, you’re not going to continue to remove those who look like us and it be acceptable it’s not.”