MEMPHIS, Tenn. — He lost his bid for Mayor, but Police Officers re-elected Mike Williams as the Association for four more years.
Not everyone was happy about it.
In an interview with WKNO-TV’s “Behind the Headlines,” the soon to be Memphis City Council Chair, Kemp Conrad, took shots at Williams.
“You’ve got people like Mike Williams and the Police Union helping other cities come in here and recruit officers. I think that’s a gross violation of the personnel policy, and he should be fired!” said Conrad.
“Those other departments came here because they wanted to come here, not because I sent them letters to come here,” said Williams.
Williams said he couldn’t help that officers wanted to look at other departments, especially since the city cut benefits and is planning on pension changes.
“I just see it as holding them accountable, bringing issues to the forefront, and for some reason they don’t like those issues to be uncovered,” he said.
Conrad, however, painted a very different picture of the MPA.
“We have tried to work with those folks, but they are not willing to give anything, because if they give anything, they are going to lose their next election,” Conrad said.
“I have been a thorn in their side to be perfectly honest, and being re-elected, I’m going to continue to be a thorn in their side,” said Williams.
The feud may not die down any time soon.
The city is expected to face more financial woes next budget, since the unfunded pension isn’t close to being paid off.
Williams is a Memphis police officer and collects a pay check from the city, but he doesn’t walk a beat or in a precinct.