Community Leaders Call for Pocomoke New Hire’s Ouster

Pocomoke City has had its fair share of challenges.
From smelly rusty water to racial tensions and a consent decree.
Now some community members are wondering why officials decided to hire a woman with what some people are calling a questionable record.”

Jeanette Delude just started her new position as Pocomoke City manager on Tuesday and some community leaders say they hope she gets fired.
Richard Potter is with the Coalition for Justice for Anton Black.
He says Delude supported the former Greensboro police chief who was convicted of wrong-doing and an officer stripped of his credentials on the heels of the death of kidnapping suspect, Anton Black, while he was in police custody.
Potter says Delude helped the men and he doesn’t trust that she can be fair in her new role.

“She was very much involved in the whole controversial issue centered around Anton Black and the hiring of officer Tom Webster”, says Potter.

Its an issue that still has the community of Greensboro divided.
Now several groups are stepping forward to voice concerns about her current role.
In December, Pocomoke entered into a consent decree with the federal government concerning racial discrimination complaints by former police department members.
The decree forces the city to implement practices and procedures that promise to end discrimination there.

Its very troubling. Taking into consideration that I would think that under the leadership structure the city manager would be very much involved with carrying out that consent decree”, says Potter.

City officials like HR manager, Jeff Gleason say they cast their net wide to find the right candidate, and Delude stood out.

“She Came highly recommended referenced from not only her application process but also unsolicited references”, says Gleason.

Gleason says Delude’s history was considered, but didn’t disqualify her.
However, local NAACP president, Ivory Smith says the hire isn’t a good look.

“Its been a long rough road with racial discrimination down there in Pocomoke and shes not going to make the situation even better than what it is”.

Gleason says the city is aware of the community’s concern.

“We want to do the right thing and we thought we did but we’re gonna do it better”, says Gleason.

Pocomoke officials say they stand behind their decision.
However some community groups say they plan to challenge that and demand Delude’s ouster.