GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — The Greensboro City Council accepted the resignation of City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba, effective immediately, on Tuesday night, according to a statement released by the City of Greensboro.
Jaiyeoba started as city manager on Feb. 1, 2022.
The statement reads in part, “The City of Greensboro expresses its sincere appreciation to Mr. Jaiyeoba for his dedicated service. His leadership has been pivotal in driving our city’s progress and initiatives, and his contributions are deeply valued.”
Deputy City Manager Chris Wilson will resume the role of interim city manager, which is a position he held before Jaiyeoba was hired.
The city will reportedly begin the search for a permanent successor.
Jaiyeoba released the following statement on Tuesday night:
After much contemplation, I have decided to resign my position as City Manager with the City of Greensboro, effective immediately. I value the leadership you have given me. And sincerely appreciate the support you have given me over the last two years. I wish the City of Greensboro continued success.
Former Greensboro City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba
The City of Greensboro is appealing a court decision to release body camera footage showing police responding to calls at a city official’s home late last year.
Last month, a judge ruled that the body worn camera footage of calls to the home of Greensboro city manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba could be shared with the public with edits to protect privacy rights.
At 2 p.m. on Monday, Chief John Thompson announced during a news conference that the city would appeal the ruling.
“This decision stems from the city’s unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the investigative process, safeguarding the privacy of involved parties and avoiding the inadvertent exposure of sensitive information,” Thompson said. “While we recognize the importance of transparency, we believe that appealing this ruling is necessary to ensure that all aspects of this investigation are conducted with the utmost care and consideration for the individuals involved.”
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan said she believes in the value of bodyworn cameras but added that she was concerned that the release of these videos could open family members to “undue scrutiny.”
“I am deeply concerned that recent rulings may set a troubling precedent potentially discouraging individuals from seeking assistance in emergency,” Vaughan said. “Let us consider the gravity of a family in crisis reaching out for help.”
While Thompson says he has not spoken with the city manager since the incident, Vaughan says she has spoken to Jaiyeoba in a parent-to-parent capacity.
“We know that there are lots of families right now who are at different stress levels, and I know it’s hard to be a parent,” Vaughan said. “It’s hard to be a teenager these days, and sometimes things bubble over, and I think we have to be careful to allow people to make mistakes and not have to end up on an internet for the rest of their lives.”
Content of the videos
When asked about the sensitive content on the video, Thompson said, “It’s not sensitive because it’s the city manager. This is sensitive for anybody that would be in that same circumstance, and, if it wasn’t the city manager, I would be up here facing that same kind of internal struggle on to release or not to release.”
He said the video contains statements made by family members, some involving medical information and incidents that occurred previously between family members.
“This is a family in some type of crisis, and they’re emotional and feelings are coming out, and so it’s sensitive in that we believe any citizen would be hesitant to want that information blasted out for everyone to see,” Thompson said.
The police chief emphasized the city manager was the only person at the scene with an observable injury, but Thompson says Jaiyeoba could not confirm if the injury was the result of an assault. Jaiyeoba’s daughters showed “no observable signs of injuries.”
No charges were filed after the incident, Thompson said, because officers did not find probable cause.
“The evidence, facts, information and statements did not support probable cause,” Thompson said. “Officers cannot just arbitrarily arrest people out of emotion. There must be evidence and probable cause present to make an arrest. Responding officers followed department policy and state law to the letter.”
Background
Multiple 911 calls were placed from the home between Dec. 28 and 29, 2023, including what a CAD reporter described as a “physical domestic disturbance” on Dec. 28 and a call involving a request for an escort from the home on Dec. 29.
The Dec. 28 incident is listed in the report as “simple assault,” and Jaiyeoba and two family members were identified as having “apparent minor injuries.”
The police narrative states only that the officer “responded to [the address] in reference to a Family Disorder. Upon my arrival, I met with the complainant who advised that on 12/28/2023 at approximately 1930 hours, a Family Disorder occurred.”
In one of the 911 calls made from the home, it’s hard to understand what the person is saying, but a transcript of the call says there was a “female on the line stating that [redacted] is abusing them.”
In the days following the incidents, Jaiyeoba was seen in a sling.
On Feb. 5, the City of Greensboro confirmed that it had filed a court order to gain access to the police body camera footage of the incidents at Jaiyeoba’s home.
The Greensboro City Council released a statement last week after reviewing the footage:
The entire body of the Greensboro City Council has reviewed the body worn camera video from the December 28, 2023, police response to City Manager Jaiyeoba’s home. Four police officers and EMS staff responded to the call.
The officers spent a considerable amount of time interviewing the family. Additionally, a senior detective interviewed the City Manager and his family over the course of two days, following the incident.
Upon reviewing the video, it is apparent there was a family disagreement. It is unclear how the disagreement began. City Manager Jaiyeoba was the only person with a visible injury.
It is our collective opinion that the domestic disturbance was thoroughly investigated. Greensboro Police Department in consultation with the District Attorney’s office determined that no charges were warranted. Furthermore, in our view, the City Manager did not receive preferential treatment.
We hope the community will respect the family’s right to privacy. City Manager Jaiyeoba and his family should be granted the same privacy as any other family deserves in similar circumstancesGREENSBORO CITY COUNCIL
In a statement on Jan. 25, Jaiyeoba said, “Parents often have disagreements with their adult kids, and my family is no different. Regretfully, after the Christmas holiday, police officers were called to my home. Please understand, this is a family matter, and I stress that fatherhood is the most important job to me. While we continue to work through this and find a path forward, I ask for the community to please respect my family’s privacy.”
GPD’s prior statement
In a statement Greensboro Police Department stated that “at no time Mr. Jaiyeoba or anyone from the city manager’s office ask that GPD deviate from its normal investigative procedures.”
Police go on to say that after completing the investigation and consulting with the district attorney no criminal charges are being filed and that no probable cause was established in regard to how Jaiyeoba “may have sustained” the injury to make an arrest. Public information records were given to the city attorney’s office within 48 hours.
GPD concluded by stating that they “stand behind the integrity of our officers and their professionalism in response to this call and throughout their investigation.”
