Mike Napier has been a crucial part of the PLEA team for over 34 years. He currently provides legal counsel for approximately 4000 police officers in Arizona. Beyond PLEA, this includes the Glendale Law Enforcement Association, Gilbert Law Enforcement Association, Chandler Law Enforcement Association, Mesa Police Association, Buckeye Law Enforcement Association, Avondale Law Enforcement Association, Peoria Police Officers’ Association, Goodyear Police Officers Association, Deputies Law Enforcement Association, Maricopa County Association of Detention Officers, and the Arizona Corrections Association.
Mr. Napier has set the standard for aggressive and successful police labor legal representation in the State and throughout the Southwest. With his PLEA and Arizona track record as his platform, the sergeants’ and lieutenants’ union utilized the services of Mr. Napier for over 10 years. Mr. Napier left PPSLA last year. Since then, PPSLA hired two former lawyers from Mr. Napier’s office to provide legal tutelage: Dale Norris and John Commerford.
To their credit, PPSLA is consistent to their mission: Support the policy-makers. This logically sets them at odds with PLEA’s mandate: It’s all about the members. It’s sad that PPSLA remains silent regarding relevant issues that impact the citizens we serve and our investigators and first-responders who take the risks. Not a whisper from PPSLA on the private purchase of rifles for patrol, or a civilian wagon/booking process to free up patrol, or the crisis at the crime lab that burdens detectives. When PPSLA does raise their voice, it belches support for a broken immigration policy or an endorsement of Mr. Harris’ $5000 a week conflict with pension rules.
PPSLA has spoken again. This week they brought a bar complaint against PLEA’s legal counselor Mike Napier. Allegations of misconduct brought against Mr. Napier by PPSLA include conflict of interest issues stemming as far back as 7 years as well as Mr. Napier being too aggressive in his questioning of a PSB investigator at a civil service board. PLEA’s legal counsel shares a common fact of life with the PLEA members he serves – if both are doing their job they’re going to get complaints. Bad guys hate being held accountable. They’ll deflect their flaws and delay their demise through meaningless and stale complaints. The current PPSLA noise against Mr. Napier sounds like a suspect crying foul after being caught short.