The low morale within the police department was a hot topic at Tuesday’s city commission meeting, where the Coral Gables Police Union President, Chris Challenger, addressed the commission about the issues that are affecting his members. Challenger highlighted several issues that are leading to low morale among police officers.
One of the issues mentioned by Challenger was the cancellation of a long-standing on-duty workout policy. According to Challenger, this policy was canceled for everyone because the union filed a grievance on behalf of an officer. Challenger emphasized the importance of physical fitness in job performance and mental health and said that canceling the workout policy is a significant blow to the officers’ morale.
Ten Percent of Gables Police Force Applied To Miami-Dade Police Department
Another issue raised by Challenger was the sending of supervisors to officers’ houses who called out sick. According to Challenger, this practice breeds mistrust between the officers and the department. Challenger also pointed out that the department has contacted the Miami-Dade Police department, requesting them not to hire 10% of the police force. This decision has caused a lot of anxiety and frustration among the officers who wish to leave the department.
Finally, Challenger highlighted the issue of hiring outside personnel to fill upper rank positions, which he said has a stifling effect on opportunity and hampers motivation, leading to stagnation among the officers.
Chief Makes Plea To Miami-Dade Police To Not Hire His Officers
After Challenger finished his address, Mayor Lago immediately called the Chief of Police, Ed Hudak, to the podium to “add color” regarding the issues presented. The chief was visibly upset and rambled into issues not mentioned, such as beards, tattoos, YouTube videos, and a vote of no confidence. The chief acknowledged contacting the Miami-Dade Police Department requesting that they do not “decimate” his department. Chief Hudak accused the union of encouraging officers to leave to departments with better retirement benefits.
Commission Seemed Unconcerned About Police Department’s Low Morale
Mayor Lago’s response to low morale concerns was somewhat surprising. He stated that the union was maneuvering to intimidate the commission, the city manager and the finance director in an effort to negotiate a contract. Chief Hudak disagreed, stating the union’s job was to hold him accountable. The mayor’s response seemed to ignore the concerns raised by Challenger and the union. Mayor Lago then passed the gavel to exiting Commissioner Mena and made a motion for a vote of confidence for Chief Hudak. All the commissioners agreed, but failed to address the union’s concerns.
When contacted, Challenger clarified that his intention was to highlight the issues that are affecting his members. Challenger emphasized that the morale issues are real, and must be addressed and not ignored for the betterment of the police department and our community.
I wouldn’t say low morale is only isolated to the police department.
The morale within the entire City is at an all-time low mostly because of pay. Within the Police Department they have low pay and benefits relatively speaking, but they also have a fuhrer for a department director. I think all the police officers I’ve talked to want him gone and it is for a wide variety of reasons. The commission just had a vote of confidence for Ed Hudak and that makes sense. He is the puppet and they are the puppeteers. I hope the truth comes out soon because we need to know what’s really going on. How can this chief expect to run Miami Dade police department (over 2500 officers) when he can’t run the 200 person Coral Gables Police Department?
As an employee of the City of Coral Gables, I can assure you the issue of low morale and a deteriorating relationship with our elected officials extends well beyond the police department. Lago has shown his colors time and time again, and is just another self-serving, crooked politician. It’s only a matter of time before the “City Beautiful” and those services that make it stand apart from the other neighboring cities and municipalities gets decimated by those same cities simply because they compensate their employees fairly. Lago refuses to do so as he boasts about the financial “immense resources” Coral Gables sits upon. It’s a slap to the face of the people that made Coral Gables an ideal city to live in long before Lago, and will work there long after he’s gone.
The beatings will continue until moral improves!
Heil Challenger! Keep exposing the truths about the Police Department. Finally a Union President with the testicular fortitude to take evil head on. Good always prevails.
It is clear that the city must take a hard look at the factors driving this exodus of employees and invest in the necessary resources to create an environment where employees can thrive once again. The compensation study was a step in the right direction. That doesn’t change the fact the only reason the city did the study was because people were leaving, not because the city wanted to pay their employees a fair wage..
[…] his neutrality and his ability to serve as Police Chief. If you add the current reports of the low morale in the police department and the inability to retain police officers it would not be a stretch to think the commission may […]