Centennial Lakes police rank-and-file are going public with gripes about their boss.
The patrol and sergeants unions are demanding action from community leaders after earlier passing a unanimous vote of no confidence in Chief Bob Makela, calling him a poor leader since he took the job three years ago. The department serves Centerville, Circle Pines and Lexington.
"The commission makes directives, and the chief follows those directives. Some ... might not be well-received," Capra said. "Change is hard."
Officers said problem-oriented policing was not a factor in their no-confidence vote.
They spelled out concerns about Makela in a letter to the police board two weeks ago:
He is indecisive.
He does a bad job of communicating.
He delegates his work.
He doesn't instill confidence in others, and union members avoid interacting with himm.
He has created a hostile work environment.
The letter asks the board to address the problems but does not seek the chief's ouster or suggest solutions.
Several members of the department have grown so frustrated that they have begun to look for other jobs. The unions warned the governing board — which includes the mayor and a city council member from each city the department serves — last month it could lose its trained officers.
The governing board shouldn't dismiss the no-confidence vote, suggested Dennis Flaherty, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association.
"I think it signals in a very loud way to the city's policymakers or elected officials and the community at large that there are problems in the Police Department that bear very close attention," Flaherty said.
The unions notified the board of their no-confidence vote in October and requested a meeting. But the board responded a month later with a closed meeting. The unions were not invited.
Pioneer Press
1/10/2009
Centennial Lakes Police Governing Board
5 comments:
Who are these people? They just blow off the union and hold a closed meeting?
The cops are afraid of identifying themselves for fear of retaliation?
UNBELIEVABLE!
Retaliation. Sounds like Centerville. People afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation from City Hall.
I think there are a lot of police officers that are trying to do a good job for the people of their community, however, are caught up in the middle of what their superiors are dictating and sometimes corruption in their own department. They are afraid to speak up because of retaliation. What is an officer to do? May I make a suggestion. Go to the website of Jack McLamb, the most highly decorated officer in Phoenix history and host of his own radio show. Take the time, give him a chance and listen to him with an open mind. If you give him a chance, you will find out you are not alone in this and that there is a movement to help officers in these predicaments. He also emphasizes really learning your constitution. You would be amazed to learn that some of the things that you are asked to do are unconstitutional. Thank you for your service and may God's Blessing always be with you.
Shouldn't our Mayor Mary Capra be checking into this? This is bad when our police chief gets a no confidence vote from his peers and we pay this guy to represnt us in Centerville? WOW....................
Oh but Mary also supports Dallas to represent us so I guess we are screwed.........
No leadership abilities there...........
FRom article:
The governing board shouldn't dismiss the no-confidence vote, suggested Dennis Flaherty, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association.
"I think it signals in a very loud way to the city's policymakers or elected officials and the community at large that there are problems in the Police Department that bear very close attention," Flaherty said.
COME ON ELECTED OFFICIALS.......STEP UP AND DO YOUR JOBS.........REPRESENT THE PEOPLE.................
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