Cops React to Sizer's Firing

Cops reacted with relief today at the news that Mayor Sam Adams had fired Chief Rosie Sizer and replaced her with Mike Reese, a popular commander among the rank and file.

As we reported last fall, Sizer had lost the trust of her troops — many of whom viewed her as unsupportive in the face of what many cops view as unfair criticism from the public.

Three cops tell WW that Facebook lit up with positive comments from fellow officers when the news broke today that Sizer was out and Mike Reese was in as the new chief.

A former commander at Central Precinct, Reese won the respect of cops, advocacy groups and the downtown business community before he was reassigned to East Precinct last fall.

"Our membership is very happy that the mayor decided to stay in house," says Officer Dave Dobler, who took over as acting head of the police union after Sgt. Scott Westerman's fall from grace last month.

"Mike Reese has been around for a long time," Dobler says. "He grew up in this area and raised his family here. He has a large skill set, and he is highly thought of as a thoughful, logical person."

Dobler says the honeymoon was over between Sizer and the rank-and-file. But he also says Sizer won points with the troops this week when she held a press conference to rail against Adams' budget decisions.

Ironically, that may have been the move that got Sizer fired.