Another union calls for Sykes to leave council

5/24/2014
BLADE STAFF

Another public-sector union has joined the list of organized labor groups calling for the resignation of Toledo Councilman Larry Sykes, whose claims of police profiling were ruled unfounded after an internal police investigation.

Steve Kowalik, Toledo regional director of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Ohio Council, called on Mr. Sykes on Friday to resign from his at-large council seat.

“Citizens demand and deserve elected officials who possess integrity and credibility,” Mr. Kowalik said. “Sadly, Councilman Sykes lacks both.”

Unions representing Toledo police patrolmen, firefighters, and the Toledo Federation of Teachers also have called for his resignation.

Mr. Sykes, who is black, was pulled over by two white Toledo police officers April 24 and, days later, wrote to police Chief William Moton claiming he’d been profiled.

The letter prompted an internal investigation, which found the officers were justified in stopping Mr. Sykes, who did not have a front license plate and had a plastic cover obstructing his rear plate.

Sykes has refused to comment on the unions’ demand that he resign and said he will not discuss the traffic stop again.