During the May 24th Policing Subcommittee meeting of the Racial and Social Justice Commission, Prince William County NAACP President, Cozy Bailey, alleged that he was referred to as the “n-word” after addressing a leadership seminar put on by Police Chief, Barry Barnard, with “the top or two or three layers of leadership.” Bailey noted that about 40 people and officers were in attendance and that his presentation received a “cold reception” with virtually no questions and that “as I walked out…what I heard was, “Glad that n-word is done.’”

Bailey said the invitation to speak occurred while he was NAACP president and when the Police Department’s Citizens Advisory Board was created, but also said it was five or six years ago. However, Bailey was appointed president of the NAACP in 2017 (four years ago), the same year the advisory board was created.

Following the allegation, current Police Chief, Peter Newsham, asked the County to initiate an independent formal investigation into the allegation. The investigation is still under review.

According to the Prince William Times, Mr. Bailey questioned the results of a countywide survey produced earlier this year which showed that 96% of county respondents, and over 90% from every racial and ethnic group were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the overall job performance of the Prince William County Police Department.

According to PW Times, Bailey said the research firm that conducted the report appeared “to be bending over backwards to create a survey that makes the department look good.”

“There are many, many things that are problematic about that survey and, as it’s now released to the public, my concern is it’s going to present a less than accurate view of the residents of the county about the performance of our police department,” Bailey said.

In an e-mail to County Leadership in early June, First Sergeant Jonathan Perok said, “We do not condone, nor will we be complicit with, the type of behavior the community member described.”

– Coles District Staff