Fraternal Order of Police wins union election

“This election is all about our officers, and if the city is willing to negotiate with FOP it is a step forward,” said officer Elliot Sneezy, president of City of Maricopa Police Association (COMPA), a rival union.

Sneezy’s organization was the first police union in the city and the union in charge of negotiating a contract between officers and the city until officers voted in November to decertify it. (See story: Police union decertified)

Justin Thornton, president of the local FOP, said at the time it signaled the department was ready for a change. The change he referenced was from a union that stirred up controversy by calling for an internal audit of the police department and publicly criticizing department leadership.

COMPA also filed suit against the city more than two years ago, alleging then City Manager Kevin Evans broke the city’s meet and confer ordinance while negotiating an employment contract with the union. The suit said he discussed details of the proposed contract with the city council in an executive session prior to a public hearing on the measure. The ordinance requires a public hearing before the contract is discussed in an executive session.

A judge recently ruled in favor of COMPA in the dispute.

The decertification triggered an election process in which Maricopa’s 40 officers voted for the union they wanted to represent them in contract negotiations.

FOP won that election 20-15. The ballot count was verified by a member of each union as well as representatives of the city clerk, city attorney and human resources department.

Despite the loss, COMPA will maintain its status within the Maricopa Police Department, providing union benefits and services to its dues-paying members.

Sneezy said his organization will continue to push for an outside audit of the department.