A Greene County mother is exploring a recall of Greensboro’s mayor and three city council members over concerns regarding the handling of her son’s arrest by the Greensboro Police Department that led a jury to convict him to a lengthy sentence.
Amelia Riley claims city officials were negligent in helping to identify and support her allegations of mismanagement of her son’s investigation.
Hakeem Jeremiah Neal was arrested and convicted for his role in an armed robbery, resulting in a 20-year sentence, according to Riley, his mother.
She also shared concerns with the Lake Oconee News that she feels family plays a role in city governance, as city employees and council members share familial connections.
Despite an initial visit by Mayor Corey Williams to the first community meeting, Riley said he appears to have done nothing in support of their concerns. The three council members identified as part of a potential recall are Cynthia Rivers, Chris Moore, and Morris Miller.
Mayor Pro Tem David Neal is Hakeem’s uncle and is not a target of the recall.
Riley has gained the attention of the national NAACP, Black Voters Matter, the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, and other organizations as she garners support for her son’s cause. A group of approximately 100 people from Greensboro, Athens, and Atlanta gathered Saturday to march peacefully to the courthouse in protest of the conviction and to spread awareness of the case.
“The city operates with too many family connections,” Riley said. “How can I work with a city when I feel they won’t hear me? I want them to know of my concerns with the police and how it convicted my son.”
True to grassroots movements, Riley formed a community group to challenge the conviction and has met weekly at the Excell Adult Day Care Center on Martin Luther King Drive, while also forming an active Facebook page to solicit support. She has formed a tight bond with a local resident, Cierra Porter, who said she was called for jury duty but did not make the selection.
Porter told Lake Oconee News that she felt compelled to join Riley’s cause after sitting through the trial and coming to her conclusion of police mishandling of the case, resulting in Hakeem Neal’s incarceration.
She agreed with Riley that there are too many family connections between the police chief and the city council. Both she and Riley assert they have more than the necessary number of signatures to complete the two-step process for legal recall.
Laws governing recalls in Georgia are difficult and lengthy, with a process that includes both an application with signatures and a formal petition. Upon receipt of the application, the county’s elections office is required to notify the subjects of the recall application that a form has been received and requires in excess of 100 signatures. Recalls often find their way to court to address challenges.
To date, nothing has been received by the elections office.
City’s response
Williams said in an email to the Lake Oconee News that, as mayor, he values input from citizens and understands the importance of addressing their concerns.
“I want to assure you that Greensboro’s mayor and council are fully committed to serving the best interests of our community and making decisions that promote its growth and well-being,” Williams said. “We understand that not every decision will be met with unanimous approval, but we believe in the democratic process and the importance of open dialogue.
“If there are specific issues or grievances that have led to the potential recall efforts, I would appreciate the opportunity to hear them directly from you [in an email to the newspaper]. We are always open to constructive criticism and willing to engage in meaningful discussions to find common ground and resolve any issues.”
Williams added that recall efforts should only be used, “For situations where there is a clear violation of trust, malfeasance, or a failure to fulfill the duties of the office.”
He concluded by writing that care should be used to decide if a recall is in the best interest of the community.
Monford has served more than 20 years as a respected member of local law enforcement and was surprised to hear of the concerns for both his department and the potential recall. He is credited with building a department that has become actively involved with the community.
Despite any family connections to city leaders, he asserts that he is charged with enforcing law and serving the public. Monford said he recused himself from the case as he has a personal connection to the defendant and said he typically does not do casework.
“The mayor and council were invited to come in and review all pertinent case files as it related to the crime,” Monford said. “Over the course of three days, they all had access to any and all case files and related documents, and their questions were answered. Not one person in Riley’s action group has contacted me personally to discuss their concerns. Our department is sworn to uphold integrity. At no time was there ever any influence to make an unlawful decision.”
Monford clarified that he has two brothers-in-law on the city council, Neal and Miller. The men are married to three sisters. Also, one of the investigators in Neal’s arrest and conviction reportedly resigned recently, citing medical reasons.
The action committee has a deadline of July 20 to return its application.