Arlington unions to hand no-confidence vote to police chief over deadly shooting
Area police unions, incensed after Police Chief Al Jones fired an officer two days following a fatal shooting, presented a vote of no confidence to the City Council on Tuesday evening.
Unions voiced their dismay when Jones announced he fired Robert Phillips, an officer who shot Addison resident Jesse Fischer after a lengthy low-speed chase Oct. 20. Officers had responded to a call that Fischer had passed out in his vehicle, which was stopped in the middle of the road along Pioneer Parkway. Fischer fled, and officers followed him into Carla Court, a cul-de-sac. Dash camera footage showed Phillips firing multiple shots into the front window of Fischer’s car, after Fischer made a U-turn and drove toward Phillips. Fischer, 40, died from gunshot wounds, according to the medical examiner’s report.
Two days later, Jones announced he fired Phillips because there were many steps the officer could have taken before he fired his gun. Police could have blocked the street until Fischer surrendered, or Phillips could have gotten behind or returned into his police car. In front of a gathering of community leaders and police clergy, Jones said his decision was made in order to mend bridges with the community, which would have been outraged had Jones not taken action.
“The facts as we know them today are not going to change,” Jones said in an Oct. 22 press conference. “They’re not going to change today, they’re not going to change tomorrow, they’re not going to change six months from now.”
However, 368 of the city’s 671 officers signed according to Arlington Police Association President J.P. Mason. His organization, as well as Arlington Municipal Patrolman’s Association, presented the petition to council during public comment at the 6:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting, flanked by police officers and firefighters who stood as union leadership spoke during public comment.
Mason said in a phone interview the petition is not about Phillip’s decisions made last month.
“The main thing is we want to make sure we have due process,” Mason said.
An Arlington Police spokesperson declined comment.
City Manager Jennifer Wichmann said in a statement that the city supports Jones.
“These are complicated matters, and our leadership is committed to working collaboratively with employees to hear and resolve their concerns through our regular processes, including a future meet and confer written memorandum of understanding,” Wichmann said.
Both APA and Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas called for Phillip’s reinstatement Oct. 22. Mason in a statement called Phillips’ termination a “hasty decision” that could put Phillips and his family in danger.
“Once the department is out there identifying this officer in the media we will have another police family whose lives will be at risk even before the officer’s appeal will be heard,” Mason said. “We need to slow down and make sure we have all the facts and that the law is followed when it comes to the officer’s rights.”
This story was originally published November 30, 2021 at 12:34 PM.
