KENLY, N.C. — Justine Jones leaves her post three months after being hired by Kenly’s town manager. 

A month ago, the town’s entire police force resigned. Former Police Chief Josh Gibson accused Jones of creating a hostile work environment in July. By August, Gibson and his entire squad filed resignations. Some town officials resigned, too. 

Dinah Brooks, who has lived in Kenly off and on throughout her life, said that’s a problem. 

“I think the situation speaks for itself — when you have the chief of police resign abruptly and take his officers with him, but you are here to protect and serve the community,” Brooks said.

Recently, she has followed the events that led to Jones being ousted.

“I’m the type of person that there are three sides to every story. There’s the town of Kenly, there’s Ms. Justine Jones, and there’s the truth,” Brooks said.“I’m the type of person that there are three sides to every story. There’s the town of Kenly, there’s Ms. Justine Jones, and there’s the truth,” Brooks said.

Searching for the truth was the purpose of an independent investigation into whether the accusations against Jones held merit. The mayor said the investigation revealed nothing to justify the former chief’s claims. 

Still, town officials voted to end her contract by a 3-2 vote on Tuesday. 

Her vacancy is one of several positions the mayor must fill, including hiring a new police department. Her contract termination by city council vote has residents like Brooks wondering what she did that was so wrong.

While acknowledging the accusations against the newly departed town manager were unfounded, the mayor has publicly stood by the vote of his peers.

“When Mayor Tooie Hales made the comment that she wasn’t a fit for this community, we are part of this community. So we want to know, what was it found that they found out that the investigation didn’t prove that led to them terminating her contract?” Brooks said.

Out of 30 candidates, Jones was chosen unanimously to fill the position in early June. 

“I mean, of course it’s going to look like you resigned because you just did not want to work under an educated Black woman,” Brooks said.

The 51-year-old said if the investigation didn’t find Jones did anything wrong, then she should still be town manager.

“To me, that sounds like wrongful termination,” Brooks said.

In a statement released to Spectrum News 1, Jones said, “My goal as town manager was to represent Kenly in the best possible manner.”

Brooks said three months is hardly enough time to prove you are good at your job. It’s why she will attend a rally Friday night.

She and others hope to gain more answers about the handling of Jones’ employment. 

“’I feel like as a community, if there’s wrongdoing, we need to be there to support her and not only support her but hear her side as well,” Brooks said.

The rally will be at the Temple of Praise in Kenly.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article stated their was an internal investigation.