Two officers out at Salisbury Police; one terminated

Published 4:46 pm Wednesday, January 27, 2016

 By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

Two officers are no longer employed by the Salisbury Police. Officials say one of them was fired this week.

Salisbury Police Sgt. Richard Willis, 40, was terminated from the department effective Monday, city officials said, for misconduct, harassment and conduct unbecoming an officer.

“However, this action is not final as we are still within the grievance period,” said Linda McElroy, city communications director.

Willis was hired July 21, 2003, and was most recently a sergeant with the department’s Police Interdiction Team.

Salisbury Police Lt. Jason Robertson, 38, resigned from the police department effective Monday. Robertson was hired by the Salisbury Police Department on Jan. 3, 2000. He was promoted in 2014 and served as commander over a patrol team.

McElroy said the city could not release any additional information, citing this as a personnel matter.

State law requires government employees to create termination letter when firing an employee. The letter is required to say specifically what the employee did that resulted in the firing.

The Post requested Willis’ termination letter. McElroy said the city couldn’t release it until after the 10-day period during which he has the right to appeal the termination.

She acknowledged the city has in the past released termination letters before the grievance period ended, but said that was done in error.