Columbus law enforcement chapters are split over the mayor’s race. Here’s why
Two organizations representing Muscogee County law enforcement officers are split over who should be Columbus’ next mayor. Their dueling endorsements are a microcosm of a contentious election where policing and public safety have been among the key issues.
The West Georgia chapter of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) offered their endorsement of incumbent Skip Henderson last week. The local Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) endorsed challenger John Anker Wednesday, despite telling the Ledger-Enquirer last week that it would not endorse a candidate.
The FOP’s surprise endorsement comes months after its president, police officer Lt. Ralph Dowe, clashed with Henderson and city manager Isaiah Hugley over the chapter’s concerns with police chief Freddie Blackmon and his ability to lead the department.
Dowe and another officer also filed a federal lawsuit against the city, Blackmon, Henderson and others in March alleging that the police chief made an effort to avoid promoting white men and worked to achieve a predetermined racial and gender balance within the department.
The split among the organizations comes during a pronounced police officer shortage as well. City officials maintain there are 130 vacancies in the police department, while Anker and the FOP say the shortage is closer to 170 or 180. Henderson and city officials are working on a new pay scale to help with retention.
The Columbus FOP chapter has more than 500 members. The PBA has 800 members and roughly half are from Columbus. The organizations include law enforcement and other public safety employees, and the membership of both organizations overlaps.
During Wednesday’s news conference, Anker said the PBA made its endorsement behind closed doors without reaching out to members to gather their opinion. In a statement to the Ledger-Enquirer, Henderson accused Anker of trying to unnecessarily divide the two organizations.
PBA’s endorsement
In a news conference last week, PBA West Georgia Chapter President Antoinette Holloway said its board voted to endorse Henderson after conducting in-person interviews with the two candidates.
There are roughly a dozen board members, but Holloway did not reveal the final vote count when asked by reporters. She said the chapter’s questions were screened by state PBA officials before the interviews were conducted. The candidates were asked the same slate of questions.
Holloway cited Henderson’s answers and his “integrity” when explaining why the organization’s board endorsed him.
“Skip Henderson’s comments and answers won unanimously as far as our picking him to be who we want to represent us as mayor,” she said. “We have a lot of healing to do. We have a lot of work to do within our communities as far as law enforcement is concerned. We choose Skip Henderson.”
‘A failing administration’
The FOP’s plans changed following BPA’s endorsement of Henderson.
Christy Edenfield, the FOP’s vice president, told reporters Wednesday that she got 50 or 60 messages from the chapter requesting that they offer an endorsement. Of its 557 members, 281 said they supported Anker, and only 23 said they supported Henderson. An additional 55 said they were undecided.
Edenfield said she was not sure what percentage of its members lived in Muscogee County, but added that it was a local chapter. If its members did not live in Columbus, they often have family members who do.
“The members basically stated that they simply cannot endorse a failing administration anymore and they want change,” she said. “That change, they’re hoping, is John Anker.”
Dowe’s lawsuit, Edenfield said, had no bearing on the FOP’s endorsement. Anker told reporters that he did not discuss the lawsuit with Dowe and that the matter should be handled in the courts.
Anker also filed a lawsuit in late April against the Columbus Consolidated Government, saying he was wrongfully denied the findings of an internal audit of the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office and the county jail. The audit was released days after Anker took legal action, and no hearing has been held in Muscogee County Superior Court regarding the case.
“If we had more transparency — if we had more accountability, we wouldn’t have these issues today,” Anker said. “These are courageous people ... to stand up on behalf of the FOP members. ...The people that have the power are the people with the voice that are the boots on the ground. That’s who we need to listen to. The leaders need to do their jobs.”
The reaction
The Ledger-Enquirer was unable to reach a PBA representative to respond to Anker’s comments.
In a statement to the Ledger-Enquirer, Henderson said that he will continue to fight for all public safety officers even without the FOP’s endorsement.
He thanked the PBA for recognizing the progress made under his administration, which include a 10.5% increase in salaries, more than $20 million worth of new equipment and resources, and recent department policy changes that allow beards, Henderson said.
“Every organization and individual has the right to choose their candidate. I am not surprised by the FOP’s choice, although I am surprised they endorsed at all after going on the record last week to say no endorsement will be made,” he said. “In regards to my opponent and his comments after his endorsement, it concerns me. It concerns me to see someone who claims to be the sort of leader who can hold this position stir the pot and create a divide between two very important organizations to this community.”
This story was originally published May 18, 2022 at 5:44 PM.