Lang
3/29/24
The two unions representing North Liberty police officers have issued a vote of no confidence against police chief Diane Venenga.
According to a news release issued on Friday, the North Liberty Police Department Officers Union and Sergeants Union held the vote at a joint meeting last Sunday. Both unions say the vote came after years of Venenga ignoring surveys which show dissatisfaction within the department. The most recent survey was taken earlier this year, with the unions saying surveys showing dissatisfaction within the department date back as far as November of 2017.
Among the complaints are poor communication, hypocritical decision making and enforcement, decision making based on emotion and hearsay, blaming others for mistakes, inability to hire and retain officers, and vindictiveness and retaliatory practices. Those are just a few of the allegations made in a 16-point list of accusations.
The unions says Venenga confronted the allegations with “continued sarcasm and hostility”, leading many officers to seek employment elsewhere.
The unions say a change in leadership is necessary, and they’re calling for the North Liberty City Council to take immediate action. The next council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9th.
