Sedona AZ (April 27, 2010) – The Sedona City Council meeting was standing-room only as concerned citizens flocked to protest the terminations of two Sedona police sergeants with a combined 40 years experience. The Acting Police Chief and the recently hired City Manager terminated two senior police officers, without notice, the morning of April 9, 2010, saying that the officers were “paid too much.” One terminated officer was within one year of full retirement, after serving over 19 years. 

Fellow police officers, AZCops organization, State and local firefighters, school teachers, Sedona citizens, and other concerned community and State representatives asked the City Council to overturn the unpopular and often derided decision.

Several veteran police officers spoke of new job security concerns, firefighters lamented the loss of two highly experienced and reliable field police officers, and a representative of AZCops pointed out that no other Arizona jurisdiction had terminated a single police officer in this recession. The Council listened quietly to the testimonies, but gave no indication of any impending review or action.

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