Quincy Police Unions ask for no confidence vote for Mayor Troup; Alderman Farha walks out

QUINCY — The current and past president of the union representing Quincy’s police officers asked the Quincy City Council for a vote on its confidence in the leadership of Mayor Mike Troup.

As that request fell on deaf ears, it was enough to lead Alderman Mike Farha (R-4th Ward) to walk out of Monday night’s council meeting.

Officer Nick Eddy and Officer Robert Megee, the past and present union presidents of the PB&PA Labor Unit 12, spoke during the meeting’s public forum about a lack of no confidence in Troup’s administration.

“If you look around the room tonight, you will find extra folks in attendance,” Eddy said. “The answer to why they are here is confidence … or lack thereof.”

“We have seen and had enough of Mayor Michael Troup,” Megee said. “The unions represented here tonight have separately taken votes of confidence in Mayor Mike Troup. We agree that we all have no confidence in Mayor Mike Troup or his abilities. We now ask you, the city council, to hold a public vote of confidence in the mayor. We ask you to do this as our voting families and friends watch, and we ask you do this immediately.”

Members of the Machinists Union and PB&PA were in attendance. Megee said Transit Union members were not on hand for fear of retaliation, and members of Quincy Firefighters Local 63 were not there because of “ill-perceived self-interests.”

After Alderman Richie Reis (D-6) asked for the officers’ comments to be received and filed, Farha said “Is that all you want to do? Receive and file it? They’re asking for a vote.”

Farha then called the filing of the comments “a vote of cowardice.”

“At some point, you’re going to have to stand up, and your voice is going to have to be heard,” Farha said. “Because I’m tired. Personally, I said wouldn’t say anything. But I am tired what people have been sending me and I’m reading, because it’s not true. And we can argue about whether it’s one person’s interpretation. It’s just not true.

“You just heard people that are putting their lives on the line. I mean, they have nothing to gain by doing this, and they’re afraid. It’s a common thing. Twenty-four years has taught me people are fearful. They’ll be fearful of power, and I want to tell you right now, we all, the 14 of us, look like crap. They think we don’t care. The unions think we don’t care. I’m not here to argue for them. I’m not here to argue for anybody other than the public and the public’s united. They don’t like what’s going on.”

The complaints stem primarily from the lack of a contract with the Quincy Police Department and problems with city employee health insurance.

As the meeting continued, Alderman Greg Fletcher (R-1) asked Farha and Alderman Tony Sassen (R-4th) about a special permit request for 4th Ward. Farha erupted.

“That’s not my problem, Greg. I’m not mad at you,” Farha said as he backed from his seat and wadded up some paper. “I’m tired of the damn … cowards on this city council. I can’t take it. I’m walking out.”

And he did.

After the meeting, Troup did not address the no confidence vote request. He said while he didn’t have a problem with Missouri residency for the Quincy Police Department, one of the PB&PA’s requests, the city’s personnel committee wouldn’t sign off on it.