CHIEF Stauffiger Has to Go.
The Town is Lying.
The Chief is Failing.
The Town of Tonawanda Town Board is suing its own police officers over a strike that never happened. The real problem? A corrupt Chief and a Town government desperate to silence dissent and cover up Chief Stauffiger's Misconduct & Mismanagement.
The real threat to public safety is the failed leadership running this town.
STAUFFIGER HAS TO GO
✦
STAUFFIGER HAS TO GO ✦
They Say We Stopped Working.
Here’s the Truth.
In early 2025, Supervisor Emminger and Chief Stauffiger accused our officers of staging a “ticket-writing strike.”
It’s a lie—plain and simple.
7 DWI arrests
162 parking citations
166 traffic tickets
378 car stops
73 organized traffic details
1,961 more calls for service than the same period last year
All with 14 fewer officers than a few years ago
THERE WASN’T A SLOWDOWN.
THERE WAS NO STRIKE.
THERE WAS NO WORK STOPPAGE.
OUR POLICE OFFICERS MAINTAINED PUBLIC SAFETY, AS ALWAYS, BUT WITH FEWER OFFICERS AND MORE CALLS.
We continue to write tickets and fight crime every day. This lawsuit is a disgrace—and a distraction from the real crisis: leadership failure at the top.”
“
— Andrew Thompson, President, Town of Tonawanda Police Club
This Isn’t About Tickets.
It’s About Retaliation.
This lawsuit wasn’t filed because of fewer tickets. It was filed after our union spoke out about the toxic culture created by Chief Stauffiger.
For years, officers have been harassed, denied basic gear, and punished for speaking the truth. The Chief has weaponized discipline, ignored sexual misconduct complaints, and created a department ruled by fear.
Now the Town is spending your tax dollars on a politically motivated lawsuit—while paying legal firms tied to Supervisor Emminger’s campaign donors.
If they can silence the union, they can silence anyone. What’s happening here is bigger than a contract—it’s about power, intimidation, and control.
It’s time for Chief Stauffiger to go.
Tell the Town:
Fire Chief Stauffiger Now
SIGN OUR PETITION
Join Our Fight to Support Our Police Officers and Public Safety
Tell the Town Board & Chief Stauffiger: Enough is Enough! We're Not Backing Down!
MESSAGE BEING SENT TO:
Governor Kathy Hochul, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, Attorney General Letitia James, Senator Sean Ryan, NYS 140th Assemblyman Bill Conrad, NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Hon. Michael H. Kooshoian, Hon. John A. Bargnesi, Jr. Town Supervisor Joseph H. Emminger, Deputy Supervisor Councilwoman Gina Santa Maria., Councilman Carl Szarek, Councilwoman Jill O'Malley, Councilman Tim Hennessy.
SUBJECT: Town of Tonawanda Police Chief Jim Stauffiger Must Go!
BODY:
I am writing to express my deep concerns about the Town of Tonawanda’s recent actions against its own police officers. The false claim that officers engaged in a strike is not only baseless—it’s a political hit job designed to distract the public from years of mismanagement at the highest levels of the department.
Police Chief James Stauffiger has failed the officers he leads and the residents he serves. Under his leadership, morale has collapsed, discipline has been weaponized, and officers have been forced to work without proper support or basic equipment.
I stand with the men and women of the Town of Tonawanda Police Club, and I demand the following:
The Town must drop its meritless lawsuit against the Town of Tonawanda Police Club.
An independent investigation must be launched into Chief Stauffiger’s mismanagement.
Chief James Stauffiger must be removed from his position immediately.
Enough is enough. Public safety cannot be maintained in a department ruled by retaliation and fear.
Sincerely,
(your name)
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
Add your name to the public list of residents and supporters standing with the Town of Tonawanda Police Club. Show our elected officials that the community is paying attention—and demanding better.
Who Is Chief James Stauffiger?
Ignored sexual misconduct complaints from within the department
Accused of retaliating against whistleblowers, including Officer Singh
Under fire for fostering a toxic, morale-destroying work culture
Weaponized internal discipline to silence criticism
Refuses to meet with union leadership
Failed to attend court for an officer dragged by a stolen vehicle
Why We’re Speaking Out
Officers punished for doing their jobs with integrity
Veterans forced out under bogus charges
Winter coats denied—retaliation prioritized over safety
Morale is collapsing
The Town’s top cop is focused on politics, not protection
This isn’t leadership.
It’s an abuse of power.
News Coverage
April 20, 2025
Fox News – Dem elites accused of slapping small-town cops with ‘witch hunt’ fines twice their pay
Nearly 50 Tonawanda officers received pay deductions after Democratic leadership alleged there was an unauthorized labor strike during a snowstorm
April 8, 2025
WKBW – 'That's not leadership': Tensions escalate between Town of Tonawanda Police Club and Town Board
Tensions rose in the Town of Tonawanda as the police department's union took an historic step, issuing its first-ever vote of no confidence in the town's police chief.
April 08, 2025
Facebook – PCNY Supports Town of Tonawanda Police Club
On Monday, Police Conference of New York President Michael O'Meara traveled to Tonawanda to support the Town of Tonawanda Police Club.
President O'Meara advised the Town Board that the Police Conference of New York is aware of the dispute between the Town Supervisor and members of the Town of Tonawanda Police Club and they are not in this alone.
April 8, 2025
WBEN – Town of Tonawanda Police Club issues unanimous vote of no confidence in Chief Stauffiger
In response to being accused of organizing a ticket strike, The Town of Tonawanda Police Club has issued their first ever vote of no confidence in Chief Jim Stauffiger.
At least 200 people were in attendance for Monday's board meeting, where TTPC President Andy Thompson formally announced the charges against Stauffiger.
April 1, 2025
WGRZ – Tonawanda Town Supervisor says dozens of town police officers face possible fines
Tonawanda Town Supervisor Joseph Emminger said dozens of police officers now face fines after an investigation concluded they engaged in an illegal job action involving a so-called ticket strike. The findings will be sent to the NY State Public Employees Relations Board, which could uphold or reject them.
March 31, 2025
WIVB – Tonawanda officers to be charged with Taylor’s Law violations
Dozens of police officers in the Town of Tonawanda will be charged with violating the state’s Taylor Law after a town investigation found the officers participated in an illegal strike.
February 28, 2025
WGRZ – Police Union Refutes Town of Tonawanda’s Findings on Alleged Police Strike
Further exposes the Town’s flawed argument. The union releases its own data—proving ongoing enforcement—and calls out retaliation, officer overload, and the impossibility of writing more tickets with fewer people responding to 2,000 more calls.
February 28, 2025
WGRZ – Police Union Responds to Town of Tonawanda’s Ticketing Data
Union President Andrew Thompson dismantles the Town’s “fuzzy math” and explains the real reason ticket numbers dropped: officer training schedules and staffing shortages.
February 27, 2025
WGRZ – “Town of Tonawanda releases ticket data following illegal police strike allegations”
While the Town tries to spin a drop in ticketing as a strike, this piece shows the suspicious timing after Officer Singh was targeted for speaking out.
February 25, 2025
MSN / WBEN – “Town of Tonawanda Board approves legal action against Tonawanda Police”
McDonald exposing the Town’s bogus claims and raising serious concerns about retaliation, conflicts of interest, and the abuse of taxpayer dollars.
February 24, 2025
WGRZ – Tonawanda Votes on Police Union Legal Action
Footage from the packed Town Board meeting shows the moment legal action was approved—and the union immediately firing back. Phil McDonald publicly calls the allegations false and presents stats showing active police work.
February 24, 2025
Buffalo News – “At heated meeting, Town Board votes to bring strike charges against Tonawanda police”
Covers the explosive Town Board meeting where over 200 union members and supporters showed up in force. TTPC Vice President Phil McDonald debunks the Town’s claims with hard data and calling out leadership failure.