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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The union voted through the normal channels to have a vote of confidence regarding Chief Lock. The vote was completed today and with 70 % of the officers voting there was a 85% vote of no-confidence.
Union officials stated this as their last resort to tell the public that changes needed to be made to improve the effectiveness of the department and to provide more safety for officers. They said they did not support the millage because they knew the City Administration would not use it properly and would not hire the officers promised.
It is believed by some in the union that a number officers did not vote because they feared retaliation. |
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Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:52 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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No confidence in chief, say 85 percent of Flint patrol officers
Dominic Adams | dadams5@mlive.com By Dominic Adams | dadams5@mlive.com
on June 28, 2013 at 9:50 PM, updated June 28, 2013 at 9:51 PM
FLINT, MI – Rank and file officers in the city of Flint have lost confidence in Chief Alvern Lock, according to a vote completed Friday.
The 85-member Flint Police Officers Association voted over two days through Friday, June 28, and 85 percent returned the vote of no confidence.
Union President Kevin Smith said 70 percent of the members voted over the last two days.
"The executive board made a motion and then it was seconded and it was unanimously approved to be placed on the ballot for the general membership," Smith said of the vote. "It speaks for itself really."
He declined further comment.
Lock said he didn’t know anything about the vote when reached by phone Friday evening.
“I don’t think anything about it at all,” he said. “I don’t have any reaction to it at all.”
The ballot said that Flint has been the most violent city in America for cities of at least 100,000 people the last three years running, according to FBI statistics.
“Lack of planning to increase staffing for the benefit and security of the citizens of the city of Flint and the collective safety of the officers sworn to police our streets,” is one of the bullet points listed on the ballot that was provided by the union.
City Spokesman Jason Lorenz declined comment Friday.
“Chief Lock is one of the hardest working city employees,” Mayor Dayne Walling told MLive-Flint Journal earlier Friday. “The union has a right to its own process, but I couldn't disagree more about Chief Lock's performance.”
Walling could not be reached for comment after the results of the vote were released by the union.
Smith filed a lawsuit after his full-time union president position was eliminated by the city on March 8 and he returned to patrol. Genesee Circuit Judge Joseph J. Farah denied the motion in April to reinstate Smith to the position.
The union sued the city in February, saying the emergency manager violated Michigan’s binding arbitration law when it forced concessions that included a 5 percent wage cut, reduced retirement benefits and increased hours per shift.
Lock was appointed public safety director in 2009 when Michael Brown was temporary mayor for six months. Lock was the fourth chief that year. Brown was later appointed Flint’s emergency manager.
In September 2006, Flint officers overwhelmingly cast a vote of no confidence for former chief Gary Hagler.
“I don’t believe his tenure has created an atmosphere of progress in the fire department,” said Trent Farnsworth, president of Flint Firefighters Local 352, who claimed Lock is in charge of the department even though emergency manager Ed Kurtz hired David Cox Jr. as fire chief in April. “These times call for progressive leadership.”
Farnsworth said there has been discussions within his membership for their own confidence vote, but there wasn’t enough support from his executive cabinet.
Staff Writer Shaun Byron contributed to this report.
Dominic Adams is a reporter for MLive-Flint Journal. Contact him at dadams5@mlive.com or 810-241-8803. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+. |
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Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:34 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Those who pay attention to the scanner traffic are aware that the understaffed Flint Police have been overwhelmed by the recent increases in serious crime. Just one day this week saw officers responding to 2 shootings, a stabbing and 4 armed robberies. They have been assisted by the Michigan State Police, the Genesee County Sheriff's deputies and K9 units, Mott College and University of Michigan Police. In one instance they even had help from some Genesee County park rangers.
There is a major heroin trafficking operation as well as cocaine, meth and marijuana. Domestics are on the rise including those involving children attacking parents and grandparents. There are multiple fights each day, some involving weapons. If this trend continues Flint will beat out all previous years in violent actions. |
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Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:45 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| Under Lock there are three lawsuits facing the city. Officers are suing for discrimination , two female firefighers and a male firefighter are also suing. |
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Sat Jun 29, 2013 8:25 am |
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