The embattled police chief of Richmond, Va., resigned today, after he was accused of sloppy work that allowed Chris Brown to allegedly fake his way through community service.
Bryan Norwood, who had been his city’s top cop since 2008, came under intense scrutiny last week when Los Angeles prosecutors said R&B crooner Brown logged hours of work in Richmond that he couldn’t have possibly done.
Brown was sentenced to 180 days — or 1,440 hours — of labor in his 2009 plea-bargain deal for savagely assaulting girlfriend Rihanna.
After doing 581 hours in LA County, Brown was given permission to finish his debt to society in his home state of Virginia, where he claimed to have finished all court-ordered work.
“As of today I’ve accepted the resignation of Bryan Norwood from his post as chief of police for the city of Richmond,” Mayor Dwight Jones announced.
“He has offered leadership that has brought us a little bit further in our endeavors to improve public safety. In many ways the Richmond Police Department and the city is better off because of his dedication.”
Ray Tarasovic, who had previously served as Richmond's assistant chief, was talked out of retirement and elevated to Norwood’s old job.
“We’ve reached, however, a mutual agreement, at this time, that his time as Richmond police chief has come to an end,” Jones said of Norwood. “We certainly wish Chief Norwood much luck in his endeavors going forward.”
Brown claimed he picked up trash in Richmond between 9 a.m and 5 p.m. on Dec. 12, 2011. But Department of Homeland Security records showed Brown cleared customs at Dulles International Airport, 120 miles away, at 6:44 a.m. that day, after landing from Dubai, LA prosecutors said.
“It would be unreasonable to believe that after a 12-13 hour flight, the defendant rushed through … early morning rush traffic, traveled directly to Richmond in just over two hours, and then worked eight straight hours picking up trash,” Deputy DA Mary Murray wrote.
Then Brown claimed he picked up trash in Richmond on March 15, last year, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Again, Homeland Security records appeared to contradict Brown, who jetted off to Cancun at 4 p.m. that same day, LA officials said.
Brown’s lawyer Mark Geragos insisted he has statements from Richmond police officers and firefighters and photographs to prove that his client did all necessary work.
The singer is due back in LA court on April 5. The DA wants a judge to throw out Brown’s Virginia hours and make him do all his remaining time in LA County.