Sedona, AZ — A deepening conflict between Sedona’s mayor and its first female police chief has prompted an outside investigation, raising questions about leadership, workplace culture, and the proper role of elected officials in city government.
Mayor Scott Jablow, a longtime law enforcement veteran, filed a three-page complaint last week urging the city manager to place Police Chief Stephanie Foley on paid administrative leave and launch an investigation. The mayor’s move comes roughly a year after he made a similar request.
Chief Foley had filed a 157-page human resources complaint accusing Jablow of harassment and fostering what she described as a departmental culture of “toxic masculinity.”
City officials have confirmed an independent review is underway but declined to provide details, citing the confidentiality of personnel matters.
Unlike cities with a “strong mayor” system—where the mayor is the chief executive, directly overseeing departments and personnel—Sedona follows the “council–manager” model of government.
In this model, the city manager acts as the chief executive officer, overseeing day-to-day operations, hiring, firing, and supervising department heads such as the police chief.
The mayor and City Council set policy, pass budgets, and represent the community, but do not manage employees directly.
Sedona’s adopted policy says elected officials should not direct or discipline staff.
Any communication with city employees, particularly department heads, should flow through the city manager’s office to maintain professionalism, prevent micromanagement, and protect staff from political pressure.
This structure is intended to balance accountability: the council speaks with one voice through the city manager, while the city manager ensures staff follow council policy.
This is not the first time Foley has faced scrutiny. In 2024, an external investigation into complaints against her found no substantiated evidence. That probe closed without disciplinary action.
Foley, who became Sedona’s first female police chief in 2022, has been credited with broadening community outreach and emphasizing inclusion in department culture. Her leadership has also drawn criticism from some officers’ resistant to change.
Mayor Jablow’s complaint accuses Chief Foley of creating a hostile workplace and asks that she be relieved of duty pending inquiry.
Chief Foley’s complaint alleges harassment by the mayor and attempts to pressure her into reinforcing a male-dominated departmental culture.
Neither the mayor nor the chief has spoken publicly since the complaints were filed.
A city spokesperson said a third-party firm will conduct the outside investigation. No timeline has been given for completion, and the city has emphasized the need for confidentiality.
The dispute raises concerns about public confidence in Sedona’s police department—and about the role of elected officials in city administration.
The Sedona Police Department employs about 40 sworn officers. For a city of roughly 9,800 residents but up to 20,000 visitors per day, stability at the top is seen as crucial.
The City Council will continue to meet in August, with executive sessions possible.
The independent review findings are expected to guide any decision on Chief Foley’s future.
In the meantime, Foley remains in her role.
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1 Comment
This is a tough one to comment upon as I know and respect the mayor but also know how difficult it is for women to succeed in many professions due to exactly what the Chief has referred to- Toxic Masculinity
I was a paratrooper who joined the Army when women were just being accepted to fill Combat MOS’s. I served primarily in all male Infantry/Artillery units but did have a couple of tours in unisex units as well as units commanded by female officers. I saw zero difference in ability to lead or perform mission tasks between the sexes. What I did see is some women as tough or tougher than many male soldiers and some male soldiers who were absolutely worthless physically and mentally.
When I went into SWAT women were just being accepted at our State SWAT Academy which was a push up school and dreaded by many an officer desiring to become SWAT Certified because of it. My class was the last all male class. I was surprised at how many candidates never served in the military and had zero tactical experience and that went for both male and female candidates. I was also surprised and impressed with how quickly the female candidates picked up the weapons portion of the Academy which was incredibly intense stuff. They actually did better than most of the males with their qualifications once they got trained up because they had not grown up playing cops and robbers with toy guns, never fired a BB gun or any other weapons so they did not have bad habits they had to break. They also tried harder because they knew they had to or not be accepted. Today there are several female SWAT Officers serving honorably on tactical teams around the country, putting themselves on the line every day.
Having said all of that now I digress. I did have a Female SWAT Commander in the Army who rapidly became the most hated person in our unit. She handed out UCMJ punishments to male soldiers like they were candy. At first I thought that perhaps she was just cleaning up the unit of dirt bag soldiers. Then she went after 2 of her 2nd Lieutenants and a very respectable Senior NCO. It immediately became clear that she had an agenda. No idea if she was doing so because she despised male soldiers or if she was just a hateful person? Nevertheless she was a horrible Commander and should have been relieved of her Command. But she was no worse than my first permanent party Commander who got 2 DWI’s, stole all of the Unit Funds and was a POS in general.
I’ve no idea what is going on at Sedona PD other than they are understaffed and don’t patrol our neighborhoods with any regularity. I know there are one or more other female officers in the department but it is predominantly male. It’s entirely possible the problem is “Toxic Masculinity” but it’s also possible the Chief is not a good Chief and needs to move on? Only an unbiased investigation can determine what is the truth here since none of us other than our officers know what is really going on here.
I don’t care what sex, color, race or religion anyone is so long as they do the job they’ve been trained and paid to do and do so with complete respect of others.