Crime & Safety
No-Confidence Vote Planned Against Annapolis Police Chief After Suspensions
A no-confidence vote against the Annapolis police chief is planned. Two officers were suspended for reporting waste, the union said.
ANNAPOLIS — A vote of no confidence is planned against the Annapolis police chief after two officers were suspended for reporting waste and mismanagement to the mayor, the union announced Tuesday.
The vote against Police Chief Edward Jackson and his leadership team is scheduled for Aug. 8, the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 Union said. The Annapolis mayor, however, has supported Jackson and endorsed his integrity throughout this process.
“We don’t make this decision lightly,” John Lee, UFCW Local 400 collective bargaining director and former Annapolis Police detective, said in the press release. “A vote of no confidence in leadership is a serious sign of trouble in the department, and in this case we feel it is absolutely merited.”
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The Capital, WBAL and Eye On Annapolis all reported that the suspended officers were reinstated after an independent review from the Baltimore Police Department. The suspensions were first announced on July 22.
The union said it filed unfair labor practice charges against Annapolis Police, alleging that the suspensions violated state and federal whistleblower and union relations laws.
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Union leaders are also frustrated with the Annapolis Police Department's failure to maintain its Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) Accreditation, known as the “gold standard in public safety.”
“As with any workplace, we will do everything in our power to protect our members from unlawful retaliation by management,” said Mark P. Federici, president of UFCW Local 400. “The officers who met with the mayor did so as whistleblowers and union shop stewards on behalf of their fellow officers and union members. We will not tolerate any retaliation against them for responsibly performing their duties.”
Patch contacted the Annapolis Police Department and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley for comments. Neither has replied. We will update this story if they respond.
Buckley released this statement to WBAL:
"The Annapolis Police Chief and the Police Department's leadership team have my full confidence. They sought an independent review to establish the facts and have acted on the recommendation of the review team that there was no clear breach of internal policy.
"I want to assure residents that the issues under review do not involve any interactions between the public and police. They are administrative personnel matters which I can't comment on in detail.
"What I can say is, throughout this whole process, I've heard nothing that makes me question the integrity of our Police Chief or any member of his leadership team. Rather, their commitment to an independent review and their readiness to act quickly in accordance with the outcome, reinforce their honesty and professionalism.
"The City, the Chief, and his team are committed to demonstrating that professionalism further by working with all APD personnel to ensure internal policies are clear and up-to-date; that communication and dialogue remain strong; and that there is a shared understanding of the Department's direction and values.
"The Annapolis Police Department does great work. Under Chief Jackson, they have worked hard to implement a true community policing model and build positive relationships with residents and community groups. They have done this while also achieving success in getting guns and drugs off our streets, and solving crimes.
"The City is committed to ensuring these administrative issues are resolved and our whole police department has what is needed to keep up their good work."
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