A day after Police Chief Alfonso Morales wasdirected to respond to multiple concerns about the police department, his attorney worries the chief is being set up to be fired.
The chief met with his attorney Franklyn Gimbel to talk about the long list of requests from the Fire and Police Commission.
Gimbel tells TMJ4's Charles Benson the chief will attempt to meet the commission's requests but needs more time.
Chief Morales is facing strong headwinds as his police department comes under intense scrutiny by some in the public and the Fire and Police Commission.
Benson: Is the Fire and Police Commission trying to fire the police chief or hold him accountable?
Gimbel: In my view, they're trying to fire the police chief.
Some of the requests for records and information focus on the use of force investigations and disciplinary decisions, an update on complying with the Stop and Frisk settlement, and an explanation on hiring and promoting his command staff.
It is the Fire and Police Commission's role to hold the chief accountable. They are the ones who can hire and fire a chief.
But Gimbel, a former commissioner himself, believes they are looking for a cause not a solution to their concerns.
"If you don't satisfy us with your answers to these directives you can be disciplined or fired," said Gimbel. "That suggests to me their endgame is to create a cause for that discharge."
Gimbel says the chief wants to respond and sent a letter to the Commission's Executive Director saying the deadline for the requested information by late July and early August can not be done "in the short windows of time...requested of him."
They're asking for an Aug. 28 deadline.
Gimbel: The response that he gives however will be in some manner and method affected by the amount of time that he really has to marshal all the information they are requesting that will give them an answer that will have value in their oversight obligation.
Benson: He still wants to be police chief?
Gimbel: He does.
Gimbel says Morales has previously responded to some of the information requested but has yet to receive a copy of Monday's directives.
Morales was named to replace Chief Edward Flynn in 2018 and given a new four-year contract last December.
"There's a huge number of people in this city, responsible people in this city, that really appreciate and applaud the efforts that Chief Morales has exhibited as police chief during extraordinarily challenging times," said Gimbel.
