Mesa Police Association hosts ‘frank discussion’ on Chief Batista vote

PHOENIX — The Mesa Police Association held a public forum on Friday focused on answering questions about the 95% no-confidence vote on Chief Ramon Batista.

Association president Nate Gafvert told KTAR News 92.3 FM that it was difficult to field tough questions from the public, but that transparency was the primary focus.

“There’s always a couple of people who, no matter what, will not trust and not like the police,” Gafvert said.

The event went through without incident, but had what Gafvert referred to as, “a very frank discussion with members of the community.”

Gafvert reiterated the police association’s stance that Chief Batista does not care about the well-being and moral of the department.

“We have done everything that we can over the last year to try and correct and help improve the relationship with Chief Batista,” Gafvert said. “It got to the point this past January [and] February that nothing was going to change with the chief.”

The police association has requested that the mayor and city council take action to remove Batista from the position and to establish that it’s members are treated equally with regards to disciplinary procedures, pay benefits and working conditions.

“Our community deserves to know what is really happening in the police department and not just a political response that everything is going great from the hief of police and the mayor’s office,” Gafvert said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s John Roller contributed to this report.

Follow @GrandpaKeebs