08-04-2025
Strike allegations lead to heated board meeting
TOWN OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Town of Tonawanda held its first board meeting on Monday night since town supervisor Joe Emminger said that dozens of police officers will be charged with Taylor Law violations – and the police union showed up in full force in response to allegations that officers participated in an illegal strike.
The gavel had to be used more than 10 times at a vocal and heated meeting. The union said that the town's disciplinary actions against its own police force are a tipping point, so much so that Andy Thompson, president of the Town of Tonawanda Police Club, made his first public comments since the situation began.
'What's happening inside of our department should alarm every person in this room, and every family in this town,' Thompson said.
Much like prior meetings, Monday's was packed with those in support of the police and those critical of the officers' alleged actions.
In March, the town wrapped up its investigation into the department's alleged strike, sending its findings to the state's Public Employment Relations Board. Town leaders said no terminations will come from this, but discipline – like loss of pay and fines – will be in play if PERB upholds the charges.
Since the beginning, police union leaders have denied that there was any type of strike, saying, 'The PERB charges are based on a flawed investigation with fabricated information disguised as facts.'
'The whole police community in New York State … this isn't a Tonawanda issue. We're all watching this and we're all disgusted by it,' said Michael O'Meara, president of the Police Conference of New York.
Numbers reported by the town showed close to 90% fewer tickets in a three-week period compared to prior years. Thompson called those numbers 'bogus,' claiming the town is only doing this because of their frustration over Town of Tonawanda Police Chief James Stauffiger's leadership.
The union recently created a website stating that Stauffiger should step down. On Monday, the union issued its first-ever unanimous vote of no confidence in Stauffiger.
William Krier of the the Town of Tonawanda Criminal Investigations Bureau said that the alleged actions could not be ignored.
'When an officer is found to be dishonest in their official duties, it cannot be ignored,' Krier said. 'The police club clearly feels differently as they have attempted to influence discipline for that dishonesty through a job action, a job action that has ultimately failed and backfired.'
The Public Employment Relations Board will be holding a hearing on the charges before issuing its decision within the next 30-45 days.
Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.
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