The two unions that represent Lakewood police officers, sergeants and captains want Police Chief Patrick Smith removed from his job. Last month, most of their members voted that they had no confidence in his leadership.
A third union, for civilian workers in the Lakewood Police Department, also sent a letter to city leaders. That letter supported the police unions’ votes and said the problems raised hurt morale, communication, and workers’ ability to do their jobs well.
What the Police Chief Says
In a phone interview on Thursday, Chief Smith disagreed with the criticisms. People had complained that he:
- communicated poorly,
- showed weak leadership,
- fell asleep during meetings,
- and had no good plan to deal with officers leaving the department.
Smith said these claims were unfair. He pointed to falling crime rates in Lakewood and the fact that there were no homicides last year as proof that his leadership is working.
When asked about police staffing, Smith said there are four or five open positions. He expects to hire five more officers by the end of the month. He also said that other police departments are offering big signing bonuses, making it hard to keep and hire officers.
Smith said the no‑confidence votes were a “personal attack” rather than about doing the job well.
Smith also said he was an outsider when he joined Lakewood and that some people don’t like change. He noted that the department has very few African American officers, despite Lakewood being a diverse city.
City Leaders Respond
Lakewood’s new mayor, Paul Bocchi, agreed that Smith helped reduce crime, but said crime is also down across the country, not just in Lakewood. Bocchi said the City Manager, Doug Russel, will look into the complaints.
Bocchi said the police department still does a good job overall. He is concerned that morale problems might affect work, but says he believes the department is professional.
Russel did not comment directly on the no‑confidence votes. A spokesperson said only that the city will investigate the complaints.
What the Unions Are Saying
The attorney for the police unions, Dan Thenell, said the union leaders have already met with City Manager Russel to talk about their concerns.
He said the members believe Chief Smith does not have the trust, credibility or leadership needed to lead the department. Thenell warned that if Smith stays, more officers could leave, weakening the police force.
Supporters of Smith Push Back
Not everyone agrees with the unions. Julius Brown, chairman of the Lakewood African American Police Advisory Committee, told The News Tribune that the no‑confidence votes were a “hit job.” He said most complaints were just personal feelings and not based on real problems.
Brown said that Chief Smith is quiet and thoughtful in meetings—not disengaged. He believes Smith notices things others might miss.
Details from the Police Unions’ Letters
The unions said their votes were supported by large numbers of members:
- 87% of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild voted, and 75% of them said no confidence.
- The Lakewood Police Management Guild unanimously passed its no‑confidence vote.
Smith became police chief in 2023, replacing Chief Mike Zaro. Smith has over 35 years of law enforcement experience. Before Lakewood, he was police chief in Birmingham, Alabama from 2018 to 2022, where he also once received a no‑confidence vote.
Past Disputes and Grievances
Last year, Smith put former Assistant Chief John Unfred on paid leave after telling him there was a professional‑standards investigation. Unfred stayed on leave for months. Eventually, the city agreed to a $420,998 settlement that cancelled the investigation, let him retire early, and prevented him from suing.
Unfred’s removal is one of many complaints listed by the police unions. They said it hurt the command structure and left a leadership gap. The unions also said Smith’s reasons for the investigation were unclear and not backed by facts.
Smith said Unfred reported directly to him as a chosen staff member. He said the situation did not involve union rules.
Another major complaint from the Lakewood Police Management Guild was “a chronic lack of communication and physical disengagement.” They said Smith often isolated himself from daily operations, leading to confusion and loss of trust.
Smith responded that he meets weekly with command staff to go over department matters and give direction.
Claims About Smith’s Health
The Independent Guild’s letter also said Smith was seen sleeping in meetings and at least once during a critical incident.
Smith did not directly answer those claims. He said he has been “extremely ill” and was in the hospital for nearly a month last year. He did not share specific details, but said he lost 30 pounds in two weeks and had treatment in Seattle.
He explained that he took about two months off afterward. Smith said he believes critics are using his health struggles unfairly against him.
Civilian Employees Also Voice Concerns
A letter from civilian employees, represented by AFSCME, backed the police unions. It described similar issues, such as poor communication from leadership and inconsistent directions given to different groups within the department.
