Mobile City Council releases results of special investigation

MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — READ THE REPORT: Report of the Special Counsel Investigating Public Allegations by Paul Prine, Chief of the Mobile Police Department

Following allegations made by former Mobile Police Department Chief Paul Prine, the Mobile City Council has released an investigative report prepared by Special Counsel William Athanas of the law firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings.

Athanas completed over 500 hours of work over an eight-week period and presented his comprehensive report to the City Council on the afternoon of July 22, 2024.

SEE ALSO:

Athanas was tasked with investigating four categories of allegations, specifically the circumstances under which 321z Insights was hired by the City of Mobile, Mobile Police Department and/or Gulf Coast Technology Center (GCTC) to review the EchoStop program, including how and why the contract was requested and presented to Council, and any internal or peer review conducted by or at the request of the GCTC.

The investigation also included issues related to the “chain of command” at GCTC (MPD Cyber) and allegations that the Chief of Police was wrongfully excluded from or prevented from using GCTC resources; the circumstances surrounding the alleged breakdown in relations between the City Administration and Chief Prine in November 2023, which led to discussions in April 2024 about his planned retirement or resignation; and any allegations by Chief Prine that his written complaints were not adequately addressed or investigated by the administration.

The Council further refined the scope of the Special Counsel’s investigation:

In investigating all such matters, the Special Counsel shall investigate only those matters that, if true, would constitute illegal, unethical or policy-violating conduct. In doing so, the Special Counsel should, in accordance with best investigative practices, identify in each case anyone who: (a) committed an alleged violation; (b) specify what the violation was; (c) specify what law, regulation, procedure, standard or practice, or City policy was allegedly violated; and (d) specify when and where such alleged violation occurred.

Today, Special Counsel Athanas delivered his report to the City Council, finding no illegal, unethical or policy-violating actions by any City of Mobile employee, with one exception. Special Counsel concluded that Gulf Coast Technology Center Director Commander Kevin Levy illegally and/or violated City of Mobile policy by falsely altering or tampering with City documents and public records.

The City Council intends to send the special counsel’s report to the District Attorney, the Alabama Attorney General and the Alabama Ethics Commission.

The full report can be viewed here. Minor redactions have been made to protect the confidentiality of a specific law enforcement initiative and the identities of benefit-paid city employees who have not been found to have engaged in illegal, unethical, or policy-violating activities.

This investigation was purely a fact-finding mission. The Council is very pleased with the diligent work of Mr. Athanas and believes he has fulfilled his obligation to investigate these allegations in order to restore public confidence in City government following Prine’s complaints. We encourage citizens to read the entire report detailing Mr. Athanas’ findings. Please note, however, that the Special Counsel was not asked to provide opinions or advice on any actionable items.