Sarah Anderson

The City of Plymouth has issued the following statement for the sake of transparency with the public/Plymouth residents: The City of Plymouth received a letter Jan. 13 regarding a vote of no confidence in the Plymouth public safety director from the police officer and sergeant unions, Police Officer Local 18 and Sergeant Union 34. Plymouth City Council and city leaders are supportive of the Plymouth Public Safety Department, Police Department leadership and Plymouth police officers – and this unwavering support continues. Public Safety Director/Police Chief Erik Fadden was appointed in January 2021. A 20-year veteran of the Plymouth Police Department and longtime resident of Plymouth, Chief Fadden’s mission is to foster a department of mutual respect, with a dedication to teamwork and a focus on excellence in day-to-day work. It’s a difficult time to be a police officer, and Plymouth is not alone when it comes to challenges with officer recruitment and retention. The City of Plymouth has directed significant public resources toward police department employees in recent years, including market adjustments for law enforcement salaries, which were negotiated with union representatives; additional leave benefits; financial support for educational advancement; support for mental health, physical fitness and wellness initiatives/opportunities; and efforts to work collaboratively on a labor management committee. The City of Plymouth remains committed to these efforts and looks forward to working with union bargaining groups on continued progress in these areas in order to meet the needs of the community.