Exclusive: City Councilors Want Chief Gemme Gone
Friday, March 23, 2012
Worcester Police Chief Gary Gemme
“This is absolutely real,” former Worcester Mayor and talk radio host on WTAG Jordan Levy told GoLocalWorcester. “This has been going on for months and for the past two weeks, they have been making phone calls trying to drum up support.”
The number, he said, was at nine as late as Thursday night, said Levy, “but that number might be down to 7 by now.”
“The pressure is on and some have run,” he said. “This is indicative of the city council’s actions. It’s like the gang who couldn’t shoot straight.”
At-Large Councilor Konstantina Lukes acknowledged having publicly called out the chief at a recent City Council meeting, during which, “I urged him not to generate conflict with our news media.”
Asked whether she has made or received phone calls concerning Gemme, Lukes finally conceded, “Yeah, I’ve had conversations,” but would not reveal the nature of those discussions.
Pressed as to whether any of the calls discussed either a vote of no confidence in the chief or his outright dismissal, Lukes said, “I said what I said. That’s it. I just don’t know enough. I’m getting involved with something beyond my control.”
Levy pointed out the city charter gives councilors no authority to call for the chief’s dismissal.
GoLocalWorcester has confirmed from multiple sources phone discussions concerning the chief have taken place over the past several weeks.
Be sure to check out GoLocalWorcester tomorrow for more on this breaking story.
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