CITY OF GREENSBORO FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Susan Danielsen Phone: 336-574-4002

Beloved Community Center and Greensboro Police Work Together to Address Recent Drug Shipment Allegation

GREENSBORO, NC (March 8, 2012) At the request of Rev. Nelson Johnson, Executive Director of the Beloved Community Center (BCC), Greensboro Chief of Police Ken Miller and other members of the department met with representatives from the BCC Board of Directors and staff to discuss the recent investigation of a suspicious package addressed to 417 Arlington Street. Miller opened the meeting by outlining the basis of the investigation. On January 11th, Miller explained, GPD received information from law enforcement authorities in Texas that a package, possibly containing illegal drugs, was being sent via the United States Postal Service to 417 Arlington Street. The information provided by the Texas police agency was a result of an on-going criminal drug investigation in their jurisdiction. Following investigative protocol, detectives from GPD coordinated with the USPS to intercept the package and notify GPD so detectives could continue their investigation. The package was delivered to the intended recipient, however, GPD detectives were not notified. As a result, the contents of the package are unknown, and the validity of the information provided by Texas authorities cannot be confirmed. Miller stressed to Johnson that he was disappointed that someone from within the department publicly disclosed information about the case. The Beloved Community Center provides a great service to hundreds of people in our community each week. I regret that someone connected the name of the BCC as part of this case. The Center simply was not the subject of the investigation.

The Beloved Community Center provides support to many transient and homeless members of the public and, in doing so, accepts on their behalf hundreds of pieces of mail each week. Rev. Johnson, too, emphasized that criminal acts are contrary to the mission of the Beloved Community Center. We do not condone the use of our facility for illegal activity, he said. Such activity undermines the good work of our organization and unnecessarily tarnishes our reputation. Reverend Johnson, his staff and the Centers board of directors have committed to developing new procedures for accepting package deliveries to prevent abuse of the Centers benevolence. As the meeting drew to a close, Miller and Johnson expressed their mutual commitment to making the city safer, and improving quality of life for its residents. We will fully cooperate with Chief Miller and the Greensboro Police Department to ensure the Beloved Community Center can perform its vital mission to the fullest, said Johnson. # # #

The City works with the community to improve the quality of life for residents through inclusion, diversity, and trust. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a professional staff of 2,800 employees who maintain the values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City is governed by a council-manager form of government with a mayor and eight council members. For more information on the City, visit www.greensboro-nc.gov or call 336-373-CITY (2489).