Downey : Mediator Meets With Police Union and Embattled Chief
Downey Police Chief D. Clayton Mayes met Monday with police union leaders and a mediator for the first time at a Long Beach hotel in an attempt to iron out their differences, but no accord was reached to prompt disgruntled officers to withdraw their vote of no confidence against Mayes.
“There’s no unwritten or written proposal at this point. It’s just a matter of trying to stay out of the newspapers and trying to work out the situation,” Assistant City Manager Lee Powell said. “It’s the beginning of a process hopefully to open new . . . communication.”
Disgruntled officers issued a vote of no confidence against Mayes last April and called for him to be fired. They allege that Mayes has shown favoritism to certain officers, among other things.
Mayes contends that the disgruntled officers are rebelling against his disciplined management approach, or that they are complaining because they have not been promoted.
The City Council and City Manager Gerald M. Caton maintain that the chief has done nothing to warrant dismissal.
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