Leland officer fired in records dispute

LELAND (AP) — The police chief in Leland says he fired an officer for trying to falsify training records.

Police Chief Mike James says Sgt. Rich Roman has been fired for trying to convince a training officer to sign paperwork saying Roman had completed training on the use of a radar gun.

James says Roman was suspended while the case was investigated and then was fired.

But Roman told WWAY-TV he thinks he was set up. Roman says he was told there was no one to ride with him as part of the training, but he should fill out the paperwork and an officer would sign it.

Roman had been with the department for about a year. He previously worked with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.

Roman says he’s already found another job.