New Acting Police Chief Named In Mooresville

MOORESVILLE, NC — The Town of Mooresville has named Ron Campurciani as acting police chief of the Mooresville Police Department, a town spokesperson said Monday. The appointment is the latest development, weeks after MPD Chief Damon Williams was placed on administrative leave with pay amid an ongoing internal investigation.

“Based on the recommendation of our outside investigators and information I have reviewed to date, I made the decision to appoint an Acting Police Chief to enact immediate change in our Police Department,” said Manager Rase. “I am comfortable in the knowledge and ability of Mr. Campurciani to lead this temporary situation.”

Williams, who had served as chief of police since 2016, was removed from his post in early June and placed on paid administrative leave amid an ongoing internal investigation based on complaints of a hostile work environment, WSOC reported at the time. Prior to Monday’s announcement, the police department was being led by Deputy Police Chief Gerald Childress, who will now return to his former post.

RELATED: Mooresville Police Chief Placed On Leave Amid Complaints

The decision by town officials to place Williams on leave was made June 3 and at the recommendation of the outside agency that had conducted about 70 interviews while investigating the claims, the Mooresville Tribune reported.

The investigation was launched in February amid complaints of a hostile work environment within the police department "and then branched into other areas," the newspaper said.

Earlier this month, Rase said Williams would be on paid leave until the completion of the formal investigation report, which could be early August.

"While state law prevents disclosure of a personnel matter, this action was taken pending the final review of the internal personnel investigation involving the police department that is being conducted by an outside agency," Kim Sellers, spokesperson for the town, said in a statement earlier this month. "This action is solely a personnel matter and was not based on any allegation or suspicion of criminal activity."

Campurciani will assumes the new post “effective immediately” and through the completion of the investigation report, Interim Town Manager Ryan Rase said in a June 17 statement. The 34-year veteran of law enforcement served most recently as executive director of the Western Massachusetts Police Chief Association, as well as chief of police for West Springfield, Massachusetts.