Former Yuma police chief tells his truth behind YPD awards

EDITOR’S NOTE: The previous headline read Chief Lekan spoke the truth. The updated headline reads Chief Lekan says the city administrator threatened pay plans for YPD. This also clarifies this is his perspective of the situation.

ORIGINAL

The former Yuma police chief spoke out about the Yuma Police Department awards controversy during Wednesday’s city council meeting.

Former Chief John Lekan explained he called City Administrator Greg Wilkinson to tell him Sergeant Henry Valenzuela was nominated for Sworn Officer of the Year.

“The city administrator’s immediate reaction and response was a firm, definite and unequivocal no, implying that Sgt. Valenzuela would not be receiving the award,” Lekan said during Wednesday’s call to the public. “The City Administrator added in his response the phrase, ‘No one will survive this.’ Which I took to mean the jobs of anyone with authority and approving an award for Sgt. Valenzuela may be in jeopardy.”

Lekan said he then asked if Sgt. Valenzuela could receive a lesser award.

“The city administrator replied that if Sgt. Valenzuela received any award, PD can forget about the raises,” said Lekan.

Lekan explained he felt he was given a “clear order” and chose not to award Valenzuela.

During a one-on-one interview with Wilkinson on Monday, Wilkinson denied threatening the pay plans the city council voted to implement for all first responders and city staff into the upcoming fiscal budget.

Wilkinson told News 11 he was committed to rolling out the pay plans with the city council.