Phoenix police union could discuss no-confidence vote of Chief Williams

PHOENIX – The union that represents Phoenix police officers is considering holding an emergency board meeting to discuss a no-confidence vote of Chief Jeri Williams.

Williams fired three officers this week, two of whom were at the center of the union’s concern.

“A vote of no-confidence is an extremely serious matter and we do take it very seriously,” Michael London, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association said in a partial members meeting posted online Thursday night.

“We’re probably going to have call an emergency board meeting to discuss this,” London said.

There was no mention of when that meeting would take place.

“We’ve heard it time and time again – the chief has lost the department. She’s definitely lost PLEA members … it seems,” he said.

The union leadership has focused on Officer Christopher Meyer and Detective Clinton “Dave” Swick, who were fired Tuesday. A third man fired, Sgt. Daniel “Beau” Jones, is under criminal investigation and was not mentioned.

“I believe Chief Williams, being an employee of the city, even she though she said it was her decision and hers alone, I think that she is being driven by the mayor (Kate Gallego) and the (city) council,” London said during the union meeting.

Gallego said in a statement emailed to KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday, “I support Chief Williams and the work she is doing to make Phoenix a stronger community.

“The chief was clear in her message that public safety officers will be held accountable for actions that do not reflect the values of the police department. We are continuing to move forward with modernizations to strengthen the department and community trust.”

Meyer was involved in a shoplifting arrest that was recorded by witnesses. The May video of him screaming and drawing his weapon on a pregnant Iesha Harper, who was carrying a toddler, went viral. Meyer also was shown roughing up Harper’s partner, Dravon Ames.

Swick shared offensive comments on social media that were uncovered when a database of officers’ posts was released in June.

The union tweeted out its disagreement with the firings of Meyer and Swick shortly after the announcement.

Nine other officers were also disciplined this week. Williams said all the behavior was “unacceptable” and that their conduct eroded trust in the department.

London said only one council member had showed them any support.

“I think this is very telling … I think they don’t care about us as group of employees; I don’t think they care about this city’s safety,” London said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

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