CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police Board of Directors voted to begin the process of holding a Vote of No Confidence against Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings. The FOP notified its members of the decision and is now collecting feedback and conducting a preliminary vote among its membership.
According to an email sent to FOP members, this is the first time a Vote of No Confidence has been introduced as a motion and passed.
The vote comes as the Charlotte City Council secretly voted to settle with Jennings. As Channel 9 reported, Jennings threatened legal action because of how he was treated during last summer’s debate over outer carrier vests.
Councilman Tariq Bokhari launched a public campaign to raise money and support for the vests despite Jennings’ opposition.
That campaign and the text messages he sent to Jennings led to a settlement for the chief from Charlotte taxpayers, according to sources. It was approved by the Charlotte City Council in closed session. Terms of the settlement have not been disclosed. Mayor Vi Lyles apologized to the chief on Wednesday and voiced her support for him.
While Jennings is backed by Lyles and some members of the Charlotte City Council, the Fraternal Order of Police has been vocal in opposition to the settlement and operations of CMPD top brass. The FOP strongly backed Bokhari and the use of outer carrier vests.
The FOP said Charlotte taxpayers should be “outraged” at the settlement.
The FOP was also critical of Major Brad Koch and CMPD Public Affairs Director Sandy Vastola’s collaboration with NAACP President Corine Mack on an ethics complaint against Bokhari. Vastola sued the president of the FOP for defamation in part because of the comments she claimed he made about her in response to a reporter’s inquiry. The lawsuit was dismissed, but Vastola is appealing. The FOP president was suspended and reassigned, and is alleging it was a retaliatory move.
The Fraternal Order of Police is finalizing the process for an official vote. A timeline has not been announced. The FOP is made up of current and retired officers and civilians. Its membership also includes people from agencies other than CMPD.
“Dangerous precedent”
When Channel 9’s Glenn Counts spoke with one of Jennings’ former colleagues about the decision, they said they never expected things to get this bad.
Jennings joined CMPD in 1992 and worked his way up to becoming chief.
“I also think he’s very used to working things out; he is that person you can communicate with,” said retired Assistant Chief Vickie Foster.
Foster said she worked with Jennings for many years and never thought she would see the atmosphere head in this direction.
“I’m very surprised that there is a no-confidence vote. I’m very surprised at that. And for you to decide this is something we are going to sue each other over, you are setting a really dangerous precedent. What’s next? Somebody wants to give the department horses, somebody says yes, they need ‘em, and the chief can’t say we don’t,” Foster expressed.
However, Forest said she doesn’t believe this controversy will be enough to force Jennings out, but he may decide that he has had enough.
“Personally, I don’t know if I’d want to work under those conditions. If that’s how people really feel about the job that I’m doing,” Foster said.
Police culture expert Dr. Daniel Baker told Channel 9 that a no-confidence vote is the equivalent of a divorce.
“Doesn’t seem like it’s something to grab attention; it seems like something kind of like a final expression of displeasure,” said Baker.
For residents wondering if there is a chance this could affect public safety, Baker said that in the departments he’s looked at, where tensions have been high, they are generally not impacted.
Channel 9 has reached out to CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings and the city of Charlotte for comment.
VIDEO: Controversial text messages at the heart of CMPD chief settlement
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