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Police Chief Appt. Probe Comes As Dover Mayor Steps Down

dover city website

Last month’s resignation of Mayor Carleton Carey in Dover may have resulted from pressure to leave office after complaints about the way he went about appointing the new police chief Paul Bernat.

WBOC reports that City Council President David Bonar and who is now acting Mayor said a week after the appointment five officers – including two captains and three lieutenants filed a reverse discrimination case.

Bonar said that the complained that Bernat chose Martin Mailey to be  chosen second in command because he was African American and the officers were not.

In a press release Bonar says that the council is now looking into the deputy chief selection process, which has raised questions about whether the former Mayor overstepped his bounds and went against the department’s promotion policy to make sure that Mailley got the job.

Former Mayor Carey told WBOC that he did not do what has been alleged by the council.

When Carey announced his decision to step he said he did so to spend more time with his family. 

The complaints by the officers were settled earlier this week for $300-thosuand.

Chief Bernat had not comment for the television station citing this as a personnel matter.

Last month’s resignation of Mayor Carleton Carey in Dover may have resulted from pressure to leave office after complaints about the way he went about appointing the new police chief Paul Bernat.

WBOC reports that City Council President David Bonar and who is now acting Mayor said a week after the appointment five officers – including two captains and three lieutenants filed a reverse discrimination case.

Bonar said that the complained that Bernat chose Martin Mailey to be  chosen second in command because he was African American and the officers were not.

In a press release Bonar says that the council is now looking into the deputy chief selection process, which has raised questions about whether the former Mayor overstepped his bounds and went against the department’s promotion policy to make sure that Mailley got the job.

Former Mayor Carey told WBOC that he did not do what has been alleged by the council.

When Carey announced his decision to step he said he did so to spend more time with his family. 

The complaints by the officers were settled earlier this week for $300-thosuand.

Chief Bernat had not comment for the television station citing this as a personnel matter.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.