Vallejo's police chief is under fire for what the Vallejo Police Officers' Association calls a community crisis.
The union on Wednesday morning held a news briefing to discuss a unanimous vote of no confidence taken by VPOA.
"After all he's the king," said Mike Rains, an attorney representing the police union. "He's not the chief."
Rains did not hold back when describing how the union feels about their current chief Shawny Williams, who took over as Vallejo's top cop in 2019.
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Williams prior to joining the Vallejo Police Department spent three decades at the San Jose Police Department. The chief has faced big challenges, including police shooting scandals and staffing nightmares.
Rains claims the rank and file have now lost all faith in the chief, noting a unanimous no confidence vote by union members in December. The attorney also accuses the chief of playing favorites when it comes to hiring and creating a situation that lead to the department's massive staffing problems.
While the police union is not satisfied with the current police chief, the city has a different take.
Vallejo City Manager Mike Malone released a statement ahead of Wednesday's union briefing, stating the city fully supports the chief and the transformational reform initiatives being undertaken by the department.
"This information doesn't come as a surprise to us. We have known that there have been challenges in the Department. The leadership in this city is fully aware that there have been difficulties between the Department Leadership and Department Members," Malone said in a statement. "However, the City is steadfast in its commitment to departmental reform and to rebuilding relationships within the Department. Ultimately, it boils down to the fact that this community deserves to have a strong relationship rooted in trust with those who are sworn to serve and protect them, and we are committed fully to that goal. Change is sometimes hard, but working positively together, rather than in a divisive manner, is the best way to move forward."
The Vallejo Police Department also provided NBC Bay Area an annual report, citing the accomplishment of the department under Williams in 2021, which included statistics showing a decrease in use of force incidents.
Vallejo resident Tara Beasley-Stansberry said that if the union and police chief do not get on the same page, it is the residents who will ultimately suffer.
"Unfortunately when you do that, it keeps the community in strife," Beasley-Stansberry said. "It allows the community to choose sides."
