Could Former Belmont Police Chief Face Charges?

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BELMONT, NC — Harassment, falsifying records, deleting an accident report.

Those are just some of the charges that got Belmont Police Chief Charlie Franklin fired. The city council upheld that termination this week. Tonight, one council member talked with me about the cost of this scandal and what could have been done differently.

“I was surprised at the list of charges,” says Belmont City Councilman Richard Turner. “You know I was expecting a handful. I think we had 16 in total.”

Turner is not alone. The charges against former Police Chief Charlie Franklin caught many by surprise. Improper use of city property and equipment, missing work without approval, falsifying records, conflict of interest and harassment. A list of flagrant violations.

Initially, this looked like a relatively quick and cost effective investigation into the Belmont Police Chief, but that changed. A laundry list of charges, a termination and an extended time frame. In the end, a fairly hefty bill for tax payers.

The city used a Huntersville company, U.S. ISS Agency, to run the investigation. An initial estimate of $15,000 has ballooned into a cost of $80-90,000. 

“I wish we could have done this for less,” says Councilman Turner. “Good stewardship of the public funds is something that I’m very concerned about.”

What started as an internal, personnel investigation grew into something more serious.

“When we found out about the drug forfeiture money and things like that, did that change the complexion at all as far as the people who were doing the investigation?” asks Turner.

Turner wonders now if this should be a criminal investigation, and whether the city should contact the district attorney or State Bureau of Investigation.

WCCB Charlotte reached out to the SBI.

“No one under my supervision in the Southern Piedmont District has been requested to investigate the allegations involving former Chief Franklin and the City of Belmont,” says Tony Underwood, Special Agent in Charge with the North Carolina SBI.

I called Gaston County district attorney Locke Bell to ask if he plans to look into the allegations against Charlie Franklin. He has yet to return my call.

Franklin could still face charges for his alleged actions.