POCOMOKE CITY, Md. (AP) - Leaders of a small, predominantly black town on Maryland's Eastern Shore are defending their decision to fire the town's first black police chief and call for healing racial tensions that have divided the community.
Two local pastors, representing a group called Citizens for a Better Pocomoke, called on the mayor and council members to work with them to reinstate former Pocomoke City Police Chief Kelvin Sewell.
Reverend Ronnie White of the House of Love Christian Center told the council that he feels the integrity and reputation the community has been greatly compromised.
Pocomoke City Mayor Bruce Morrison told members of a citizens group Monday night that he's willing to work with them, but that Sewell won't likely be reinstated.
Sewell says he was dismissed for refusing city officials' demands that he fire two fellow black officers who filed complaints saying they had been treated unfairly.
City officials deny Sewell's claim but say their ability to address the issue publicly is limited because of pending litigation and personnel rules.
