
Williams was also clear that he did not want these officers to ever work for his department, or the city again. (WBTV) - When Markayle Gray, a former English teacher at Charlotte Secondary School, created his curriculum plan for the 2022-23 school year, he, like all other. These officers should not only lose their jobs with the WPD but, in the view of my office, have lost the right to wear the badge for any law enforcement agency in the future,” David wrote in a letter to Williams. Pursuant to that same policy, we have sent a letter to North Carolina Law Enforcement Training and Standards, which certifies law enforcement officers working in the state. “Consistent with our Giglio policy, I met with attorneys representing the former officers earlier today to inform them of my office’s decision. David determined all three officers are now Giglio impaired, meaning they could never be called as a witness for the state again. The steps that District Attorney Ben David took following the discovery of the recordings were aimed to prevent the officers from ever holding a badge again.

“It’s also rare for those officers to remain terminated instead of being reinstated either at that department or another department,” she said. However, the public nature of the case is due to Wilmington Police Department’s Chief Donny Williams, along with District Attorney Ben David and Wilmington’s City Council deciding that personnel information should be released under an exception outlined in state law. Michael Praats michaelpraats I can't even imagine being the producer who had to ask RATM with a straight face to play 'Killing in the Name of' without swearing and thinking that was going to end any other way. Getting recordings made by the police is difficult in North Carolina due to a state law that shields these cameras from public scrutiny without the order of a judge. Wilmington Police address the issue head on You know what the good ones can go live in their little communities they can do what the f*** they want to do, just stay the f*** out of my way,” Piner said at one point. “You have a civil war, go ahead and wipe ‘em off the f***ing map – that’ll put them back about four or five generations. The only reason videos were recorded is due to what appears to be a malfunctioning camera in Piner’s car unknowingly turned on by accident. The recordings included racist conversations by officers Kevin Piner, James Brian Gilmore, and Jesse Moore - all captured by accident and discovered by chance. These videos not only reveal the tone and context of the conversations, but also how the three officers tried to explain their actions and words. Regardless of where I land, the opportunities I’ve had and people I’ve met along the way have been nothing short of amazing.WECT has now obtained the videos along with audio recordings conducted by Internal Affairs that were never released to the public.

I hope I’m able to continue investigative journalism, I can’t imagine doing anything else at this point. Fortunately, I’m leaving on good terms with my company and I am hopeful I can make a transfer within Gray.Īt the end of the day, we moved here for me to take a shot on a job, now it’s my turn to do the same for her. Unfortunately that means we’re going to have to move and I’m going to be leaving the best newsroom I’ve worked in. Last week my wife received an amazing opportunity for a career in Charlotte and she’s accepted it.
MICHAEL PRAATS TV
In 2020 I made the move to TV news where I got to really focus on investigative reporting and absolutely love my job. Wilmington has been my home for a little more than five years, I moved here to take a chance in a city I’d never heard of for a ditigal news outlet I’d never heard of. Michael Praats’ Post Michael Praats Investigative Journalist at WECT News 2mo Report this post Had an amazing time at the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) conference with some of my.
