Eight days after former Greensboro City Attorney Chuck Watts abruptly stepped down from his post, city officials have confirmed that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent review into business transactions that occurred during Watts’ time in office.

At a Wednesday, July 9 press conference, Greensboro Police Chief John Thompson shed some light – at least on the process – surrounding the unfolding situation, though he provided no details regarding the allegations themselves.

He began by noting that this investigation isn’t related to another confirmed SBI investigation, one into an unnamed Greensboro City Council member.

Chief Thompson opened the briefing by emphasizing the department’s procedural role in the matter. He said the Greensboro Police Department first became aware of the allegations on Tuesday, July 1, which was just one day before the city publicly announced Watts’ immediate retirement.

According to Thompson, city leadership brought the allegations to the police department, which promptly contacted the SBI that same day.

“We were made aware of allegations that questioned the legality of specific business transactions involving former City Attorney Chuck Watts,” Thompson said. “After reviewing the information, the Police Department followed its protocol and contacted the State Bureau of Investigation.”

Thompson stressed repeatedly at the press conference that the police department isn’t conducting an investigation itself but instead is acting as a liaison between city departments and the SBI.

“This is not a Greensboro Police Department investigation,” he told the group of reporters. “Our role is to help facilitate communication and ensure the SBI has access to any information they request. We’re making sure there’s a clean line between the city and the state investigators.”

For more than a week, the matter had been kept under wraps to protect what Thompson called “the integrity of the SBI’s independent review.”

However, with the SBI’s blessing, city officials decided it was now appropriate to go public – though without releasing any specifics about the allegations, evidence or potential outcomes.

At the briefing, reporters pressed Thompson several times on multiple issues. What were the transactions in question? Were they related to Watts’ official duties, or were they of a personal nature? When did the concerns first surface? Would the Police Department become involved if the SBI’s review escalated into a formal investigation?

Thompson offered little information beyond what he’d already stated, reiterating that the review is in the SBI’s hands and his department won’t speak to the content or substance of the matter.

“Because of the role Watts held in city government, we wanted an independent body to handle the matter,” Thompson said. “We’re cooperating fully, and any additional questions about the allegations should go to the SBI.”

According to Thompson, if the SBI deems the situation warrants further inquiry, the next step would be for agents to present their findings to the district attorney. At that point, the district attorney could request further investigation, recommend criminal charges or decide that no action is needed.

No timeline was offered for how long the SBI’s process might take. Thompson did make it clear that the city hasn’t received any indication as to the direction or likely outcome of the review.

One key point of clarification during the press conference was the distinction between a “review” and a formal “investigation.”

“When someone files a report directly with the Greensboro Police Department, that initiates an investigation,” Thompson explained. “But when the SBI receives information, they begin with a review to assess whether it rises to the level of an investigation. That’s where we are now.”

Thompson also made it clear that turning the matter over to the SBI was intentional and necessary to avoid any conflicts of interest, given Watts’ long-standing and high-ranking role within city government.

“The reason we contacted the SBI immediately is because of the position Watts held,” Thompson said. “We want to ensure a fully independent process.”

The former city attorney’s July 2 retirement came with no advance notice and no immediate explanation, and some city officials offered praise for his years of service.

Watts, in his own statement, expressed pride in his six-year tenure and said he wished his colleagues well.

The sudden nature of his exit raised eyebrows, and it’s now clear that there was a lot more going on behind the scenes than most realized at the time. According to Thompson, the information that triggered the SBI review came from internal city leadership.

At the press conference, the chief would not say whether those business transactions involved city funds, contracts or other legal work done in Watts’ capacity as city attorney.

And he also wouldn’t confirm whether or not the allegations involved potential personal gain.

Asked if the city had referred any other matters to the SBI recently, Thompson said the department works with the agency frequently – especially on cases involving narcotics or officer-involved shootings. However, he declined to say how many times such referrals have occurred in the past few months.

“The protocol is clear,” he said. “If there’s a serious allegation and it involves a high-ranking official or a particular type of crime, we contact the SBI.”

Thompson framed the city’s actions as a commitment to transparency and accountability—even if details remain scarce.

“We were contacted with information,” Thompson said, “and the same day, we contacted the SBI. That’s what the public needs to know.”

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