Roanoke Rapids police chief, captain fired after internal investigation

Roanoke Rapids police chief and captain were terminated from their roles with the city earlier this week after being investigated by an outside firm earlier this month.

Chief BL Martin was fired Friday and Capt. Jamie Hardy was let go on Tuesday.

The two men had been placed on administrative leave on March 10, and rumors have swirled about allegations against them. But neither the men nor city representatives have offered a concrete reason for the suspension.

Roanoke Rapids City Manager Kelly Traynham announced last month that the city had retained an outside firm to investigate allegations against the chief and captain of police.

Traynham has said both Martin and Hardy are on an indefinite leave, and neither man would be paid for the duration of that leave.

Richardson & Davis Investigative Consulting Group performed "an internal investigation of one or more allegations and/or policy violations involving the RRPD," Traynham said, but did not detail what those allegations or policy violations entail.

The opportunity for a name clearing hearing was declined by Captain Hardy and Chief Martin’s decision is pending.

Next week, the city will begin to advertise for the Police Chief position and the Investigative Division Captain position. Effective April 21, 2023, Captain Gorton Williams has been appointed interim chief and Sergeant Morgan Worrell has been appointed interim captain of the investigative division.