Justine Jones, the radical Kenly, North Carolina town manager who spurred the entire police department to quit over a “toxic and hostile” work environment six weeks ago, has been ousted by the city council.
(Video Credit: ABC11)
City council officials voted 3 to 2 to boot Jones on Tuesday night during an emergency meeting. The vote follows a monthlong investigation into the police department’s allegations against her.
Five police officers who served the small town walked out early in July over Jones’ actions. That included the police chief who served 21 years as an officer. All of them handed their resignation letters to both Jones and the city council. Police Chief Josh Gibson reportedly handed his to Jones in person.
“In my 21 years at the Kenly Police Department, we have seen ups and downs. But, especially in the last 3 years, we have made substantial progress that we had hoped to continue. However, due to the hostile work environment now present in the Town of Kenly, I do not believe progress is possible,” Gibson bluntly wrote in his letter when he resigned.
Gibson stated that he would consider returning if Jones was kicked to the curb.
BREAKING: Kenly’s town manager is out of a job. Council members voted 3-2 to terminate Justine Jones’ contract.
She had been under an investigation over reports of a toxic work environment after the town’s police force and two other employees resigned. #wral pic.twitter.com/enWuG8LxNk
— Aaron Thomas (@WRALAaron) August 31, 2022
Two town clerks also quit, accusing Jones of creating a toxic work environment for city employees.
Kenly residents were torn over whether the whole affair was racist or not since Jones is black and the police force was white. The reason for it was far more likely woke politics.
After Jones was terminated less than two months into her tenure as town manager, she defensively asserted that she had made the town a better place according to the Daily Mail.
“Having been selected for the position from 30 other candidates, I believe I was selected because my core principles clearly spoke to who I am as a leader and this same management philosophy guides me in performing my job professionally, with integrity, transparency, loyalty, fairness, and accountability,” Jones said in a statement.
FIRST WORDS: For the first time since the town of Kenly's entire police force turned in their badges — citing a hostile work environment, we are hearing from the woman at the center of an investigation that ended with her losing her job.
Justine Jones leaves the job on Friday. pic.twitter.com/HGmrNg1LGG
— Lauren Dawn Johnson (@LaurenDawn_TV) August 31, 2022
“While all related information is certainly a matter of public concern, the allegations made against me were timely and thoroughly vetted by independent sources and there was no such finding of wrongdoing by me or my office,” Jones commented in connection with the investigation by Town Attorney Chip Hewett, which found no evidence that Jones created a hostile environment.
“The decision to not communicate the entire story and publicly share the findings of the report is most unfortunate,” she lamented.
Mayor Tooie Hales said the investigation didn’t find a toxic work environment, but Jones was terminated because it was the “best way to move forward for the town,” according to Myrtle Beach Online.
#ICYMI: I spoke one-on-one with Kenly’s mayor moments after town council voted 3-2 to terminate the town manager’s contract.
According to officials, the investigation did NOT support claims Justine Jones created a toxic work environment for police & other town employees. #wral pic.twitter.com/H1NNv4f2kY
— Aaron Thomas (@WRALAaron) August 31, 2022
It is unknown now that Jones is gone whether the police will return to their positions or not.
Jones was hired despite having sued her previous employer, Richland County, SC, for gender and racial discrimination after she was terminated, according to WRAL.
The town used a headhunter to find a new town manager and, from 30 applicants, the Kenly town council picks Justine Jones? 😂Jones was fired from her last job, then filed multiple lawsuits claiming race discrimination & loose stools from stress 😂She later withdrew suits. https://t.co/K9Fl5kcXfZ pic.twitter.com/szoG5kjAd9
— bellaRainie (@BellaRainie) July 22, 2022
Jones asserted “hostile” treatment by Richland County leaders and her supervisor in retaliation for reporting bad behavior. She claims in the lawsuit that she was not paid fairly and was treated differently than other employees due to illness.
The woke progressive was fired on March 30, 2015. The lawsuit was later dismissed. Court records don’t reveal why.
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