Frank Falzone, a former assistant chief with the Mooresville Police Department, has filed a federal lawsuit claiming town leaders pushed him out after he dug into two uncomfortable episodes involving the mayor. Falzone says he was put on administrative leave and effectively steered into retirement after 28 years with the department when internal affairs proceedings were opened against him. His complaint links that fallout to a January 2024 roadside encounter and an October 2024 after-hours Town Hall incident tied to Mayor Chris Carney.
The complaint, filed Feb. 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, names Mayor Carney, Police Chief Ron Campurciani and Town Manager Tracey Jerome. It accuses them of a cover-up and retaliatory conduct, including claims that key video footage went missing and that an old citizen complaint was "resurrected" to justify an internal probe. Those allegations are detailed in the court filing posted on Scribd.
What Falzone Alleges
Falzone says the trouble started after a captain who witnessed the January roadside encounter told him the interaction actually took place around 11:23 p.m., not at roughly 8:30 p.m. as had been previously described. According to the lawsuit, the captain tried to approach the mayor at the scene, but Chief Campurciani "turned and immediately held his hand out to halt his advance." Falzone also alleges body-worn camera footage from that encounter could not be located.
Before he could fully report what he had learned, Falzone says, an older complaint against him was suddenly revived and turned into the basis for an internal investigation. The lawsuit also recounts a warning from Campurciani that "because of this, you and I have a problem," a detail reported by WBTV.
How It Ties To An Earlier 'Pants' Controversy
Falzone’s lawsuit lands in the middle of an already messy political saga at Town Hall. In a separate case, former town IT employee Jeff Noble alleges he was retaliated against after discovering surveillance video that he says shows Mayor Carney walking through Town Hall without pants in October 2024. Noble’s complaint, along with local coverage, has kicked off public-records fights over access to the building’s CCTV footage, and local public radio has noted that WBTV has sought that video through court filings. Those disputes helped frame the backdrop for Falzone’s claims, as reported by WFAE.
Missing Footage And Calls For An Outside Probe
In his complaint, Falzone emphasizes that body-worn camera footage tied to the January 2024 roadside encounter was missing. He argues that gap suggested the town’s earlier look at the incident was incomplete. The North Carolina Police Benevolent Association publicly urged the State Bureau of Investigation to review what happened, ratcheting up pressure on town leaders to account for the encounter.
Those details, along with broader whistleblower allegations, have fueled sustained local scrutiny of the mayor’s interactions with law enforcement and town staff, according to reporting by WBTV.
Town Response And Next Steps
Mayor Carney has previously told local outlets that the October Town Hall incident stemmed from illness and that he later spent time "sobering up" after mixing prescription medication and alcohol. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing in connection with that night.
A town spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about Falzone’s new lawsuit, according to local reporting. The complaint now sets the stage for a federal court fight that could bring depositions, internal records and sworn testimony into public view. For additional context on the mayor’s account, see reporting in Iredell Free News. Follow-up coverage of the broader controversy has also been noted by WFAE.
Legal Implications
Falzone’s lawsuit seeks compensation for lost wages and benefits, as well as damages for emotional distress and harm to his reputation. It also demands a jury trial. His attorneys characterize the case as part of a pattern of retaliation tied to his efforts to document and report suspected misconduct, while the town will have an opportunity to answer those allegations in court.
The full complaint is publicly available for review on Scribd.
