'Lack Of Transparency': Norristown Council Scrutinized Over Police Chief's Leave

NORRISTOWN, PA — Former Norristown officials and members of the public are calling for answers after police chief Jacqueline Bailey-Davis was put on leave without any explanation last month.

Bailey-Davis, the first woman ever to be named to the post in Norristown, has been on the job for less than year. Municipal leadership has repeatedly refused to comment on the reason for imposing the leave, though rumors centered on Bailey-Davis's mistreatment in Norristown since she took over the role have persisted for months.

See earlier coverage: Questions Persist As Norristown Police Chief Remains On Leave

Ahead of a recent municipal council meeting, officials were explicit that discussion of Bailey-Davis would not be on the agenda, sparking ire from many.

"Transparency quickly dissipates when it's maybe a topic that's not desirable, or you happen to disagree with your constituents," former Norristown councilwoman and community advocate Heather Lewis told the council during the public comment section of the meeting. "But to deny us the transparency is where distrust comes in."

Lewis said an independent audit of Norristown public safety and government was conducted by an outside contractor last year. The audit provided a list of 97 recommendations of changes needed, and Bailey-Davis was charged with implementing those changes. And while it's not exactly clear what those changes are, it seems clear they were institutional in nature.

"Which, I imagine, didn't go over very well," Lewis added, implying that she'd lost favor due to the changes.

During an earlier municipal council meeting in the fall, other Norristown residents spoke at length about what they perceived to be Bailey-Davis's mistreatment by the municipality, including the removal of her parking spot at municipal hall, and other instances of strife between her and more entrenched Norristown officials.

Still, it is not clear if these issues have any connection to the recent decision to place her on leave.

“We ask for the community’s understanding and patience as we navigate this matter," Municipal Administrator Leonard Lightner said in a statement announcing the leave. "Our priority remains to uphold the trust of our residents and ensure the safety and well-being of all who visit, have businesses in Norristown and call Norristown home.”

It's not clear how long the leave will last, or if officials expect Bailey-Davis to return to her post.