Salisbury Police Chief Rory Collins says an internal investigation shows officers did nothing wrong during traffic stops of two pastors who last week alleged improper conduct in their encounters with police.

Collins released video footage of the incidents shot from inside police cruisers Monday at the request of the Post. The videos show Cornerstone Church Pastor Bill Godair, who was stopped in February 2013, and the Rev. Bradley Taylor, of Outreach Christian Ministries, who was stopped by an officer in July.

Godair spoke during an NAACP press conference held at his church a week ago about what he called “aggressive” behavior displayed by the officer during a stop. Godair was stopped for speeding and issued a ticket.

In the video Godair tells the officer he was on his way to pick up dry cleaning before 4 p.m. At the press conference, Godair said he was rushing to the hospital to visit a member of his church after preaching at a funeral.

On the video, the officer asked Godair what he threw out of his vehicle. Godair tells the officer he tossed a toothpick out because he didn’t want to talk to the officer with a toothpick in his mouth.

The officer tells the pastor he could ticket him for littering, but the officer does not. He does, however, issue Godair a ticket for traveling 58 mph in a 45 mph zone.

Taylor said following the press conference the officer who dealt with him the night of his stop was aggressive in his tone.

On Monday, Taylor said he felt the police response was excessive for the type of vehicle stop. He was stopped for an expired registration.

He said the video doesn’t show additional officers who responded, which he felt was more than necessary for an expired tag.

“Upon learning of these allegations of improper conduct by our officers, our agency immediately began an investigation into those specific incidents described,” Collins said. 

Salisbury Police Department policy requires the recording of vehicle stops through the use of installed camera systems within marked patrol cars and a review of the video was conducted regarding both complaints, he said.

Collins said although the two pastors did not file a formal complaint with his department, he looks into all allegations.

The chief said that prior to releasing the videos, he invited Godair and Taylor to visit the department in order to view the footage of their respective police encounters.

Taylor accepted the invitation and attended, but Godair did not attend.

Godair said he was advised by an attorney not to attend the meeting.

Godair said the focus of the story has shifted onto him and Taylor and it should be with the citizens who filed formal complaints.

He said during the press conference five families in his own church have said to him they had negative encounters with Salisbury police officers.

“It’s not about me,” Godair said on Monday.

He said he merely brought up what happened to him because it was a shared experience with the others.

He said their description of their incidents made him recall what occurred to him about 16 months ago. He admits he did not file a complaint and had no intention of filing a complaint.

As to the officer in the video, Godair said, “whether it shows it or not, my wife and I felt he was very aggressive.”

Godair added that he and his wife believed he would be arrested that day. He said he even told his wife, Tina, “this guy is getting ready to arrest me.”

He said he has had more people contact him about issues with the police department, some of whom are city employees.

“I’m not against the police department. I just wanted to bring attention to a problem,” Godair said.

He said Collins had been very kind to him.

“I don’t want to look back and say maybe I could’ve done something to prevent this,” he said.

He said he hopes Collins is meeting with people like Cedric Macon, whom he said had a complaint of mistreatment.

Collins, who has not received any other formal complaints, said he has spoken with Macon and is looking into his formal complaint. Macon did contact Collins following the press conference and there is an internal investigation into his incident. Collins did not detail the incident.

Taylor said he also believes the focus should be placed on citizens who have complaints.

“We were all at the press conference for the same thing — to hear about the complaints,” Taylor said.

He said he was “attending the press conference not as a pastor to demand Chief Collins’ resignation, but as a concerned leader in the community based on allegations of complaints of excessive police force.”

Taylor said his situation was brought to light following a personal conversation with Godair, but it was not a formal complaint, nor has he made a formal complaint since.

Collins said with the completion of its restructuring in April, the department rekindled its ongoing efforts to use “community oriented policing” techniques.

He said the emphasis included a focus on building stronger relationships with citizens.

“The success of such efforts is heavily reliant upon our officers’ ability to balance the need to gain and maintain control of situations, while at the same time, handling all citizen encounters in an appropriate and professional manner,” he said.

“Likewise, it is crucial that our agency take all allegations of improper conduct by our officers seriously. 

“Therefore, the Salisbury Police Department remains committed to investigating 100 percent of those complaints received in order to uphold the level of integrity and professional policing services, which our community and our citizens deserve,” Collins said.

Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.