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From Staff Reports
Asheville Police Lt. William Wilke is contending that Police Chief William Anderson attempted to “coerce” him into making false statements about an accident in which the chief’s son was involved — and that the chief and other city officials are involved in a coverup of the case.
Wilke made the allegations during a press conference that he called June 25 in the office of his attorney, George Hyler. He read the statement for slightly more than three minutes about the March 9 wreck and what ensued in the days following it.
Shortly after Wilke’s press conference, city public information officer Dawa Hitch responded by sending an email to Mayor Terry Bellamy and City Council members as follows:
“It has come to my attention within the last 30 minutes that Lt. Bill Wilke has released a statement to the media in which he states he has concerns about the way the accident involving Chad Anderson was handled.
“We are currently gathering facts along with what is being reported in the media and will update you as soon as we have more information.”
The following is the text of a public statement made by Wilke during his June 25 press conference:
“Good morning. I am Lieutenant Bill Wilke, presently serving the City of Asheville as a district commander with the police department. I will be reading you a prepared statement and will not be taking questions at this time.“As you know, I was the scene commander for the accident involving Chief William Anderson’s son on the morning of March 9. Several things have occurred following that event, the details of which I have provided in a formal complaint to the city manager delivered on June 17, and then again on June 24. The city manager’s office has failed to act on this complaint. Some of those details include the following:“(1) On the morning of March 13, I met with City Manager Gary Jackson and Assistant City Manager Jeff Richardson to express my deepest concerns of what I knew to be false and misleading information give by the chief of police to the Asheville CitizenTimes the previous day. They responded by asking me to wait until the SBI investigation was complete.“(2) At approximately noon on March 14, I provided Captain Stony Gonce with a thorough set of documents regarding the details of the wreck on March 9. At approximately 4 p.m. the same day, I was removed by Captain Stony Gonce from an active interview with the SBI, ordered by the district attorney, to speak with both he and the chief of police. Captain Gonce was present and the meeting occurred in Chief Andersons office. While there, I was coerced and expected to submit to a set of facts and circumstances regarding the accident involving his son that were clearly false and misleading. I refused to submit to this coercion. I prepared a statement with the details of that meeting and provided it to the SBI on March 15.“(3) On June 7, I retrieved a copy of the documentation I provided Captain Gonce on March 14. Those document had been placed in the Asheville Police Department’s original documents evidence room, and I have found it to be incomplete. Clearly missing was Captain Gonce’s own statement, which I believe to contain contradictory information to that which I provided him on the morning of March 9 from the accident scene. As the scene commander, I have asked that the city manager direct or produce a copy of Captain Gonce’s statement for the case file. He has confirmed receipt of that request, yet has not provided it.“(4) At least two other high-ranking officers within the police department are prepared to provide sworn statements and documented evidence indicating a pattern of ongoing behavior that avoids accountability, generates false and misleading information and has severly injured morale within the rank and file of the Asheville Police Department.“In closing, I will tell you that I am still proud to wear the same uniform as the great majority of Asheville police officers, who understand what integrity means. Contrary to a previous report, I have absolutely no intention of resigning my position with the Asheville Police Department. As yet another problem falls upon us in the public eye, my confidence in the rank and file has never been stronger. Keep your head up and stay strong. Stand for what is right, and be there for those who need us when the call comes.”
Meanwhile, Jackson, the city manager, issued a communique on June 21, acknowledging receipt of Wilke’s complaint letter, delivered to his office on June 17.
“I have asked the human services director and deputy city manager to follow up with you no later than next week to outline next steps to address concerns. In the interim, if you have immedate questions, please call myself, Mr. Richardson or Ms. Dickens directly,” Jackson stated.
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