Attorney James Ledbetter, of the Cottonwood-based Ledbetter Law Firm, has sent a letter to the city of Sedona that he has been retained by two Sedona Police Department officers who are alleging a hostile work environment exists within the department.

The letter, sent to Sedona City Attorney Kurt Christianson, City Manager Karen Osburn and Human Resources Director Russ Martin on March 19, notified the city that Ledbetter had been retained by the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs labor association to represent Sedona Deputy Chief Ryan Kwitkin and Sgt. Laura Leon.

“As you know, both have raised significant concerns about the hostile work environment in the Sedona Police Department, orchestrated by [Sedona Police] Chief [Stephanie] Foley,” Ledbetter wrote. “Historically, and unfortunately, such concerns within the department have led to retaliation, and we wish to take all necessary, appropriate action to protect them from retaliation.”

“The city is taking steps to investigate the claims made by the persons named in the letter, but these are currently unsubstantiated accusations, and until or unless the accusations are substantiated, there is no reason to place Chief Foley on administrative leave,” Osburn stated.

“We understand that you are aware of other complaints regarding Chief Foley’s belittling and disruptive behavior against department employees,” Ledbetter wrote.

“The current culture for the department, as created by Chief Foley, is objectively and subjectively hostile,” Ledbetter alleged in the letter. “The chief displays unprofessional responses to questions, including inappropriate, unwarranted anger … Foley also spreads distrust throughout the department, underlying [undermining] unity that is necessary to effective law enforcement.”

“She directs her subordinates to surreptitiously record others,” Ledbetter alleged. “Doing so has and will continue to undermined trust. Nonetheless, she has insisted that employees of the department be recorded when others are asking questions directed by the chief.”

More specifically, Ledbetter stated that Kwitkin, who was hired in May, received a performance review after six months “that reflected his skill and dedication as a seasoned law enforcement professional. It is fair to characterize that review as glowing.”

“Just before ending his probationary status, the chief told the deputy chief that she would conduct a ‘360 review’ of him,” Ledbetter wrote. “Such a review is uncharacteristic of other reviews in the department.”

A “360” performance review asks for constructive feedback about an employee’s work performance from the employee’s manager, coworkers, subordinates and people in the community with whom they interact, as well as a self-appraisal. Such reviews are generally anonymized to prevent favoritism or retaliation.

Following the review, Foley allegedly told Kwitkin “there would be an extension of his probationary period, while he worked on his ‘communication skills,’” Ledbetter wrote, adding that Kwitkin stated he not been provided a copy of the review, alleging that “he has been treated differently than others in the department, based upon this undisclosed review.”

“Deputy Chief Kwitkin was originally provided a summary of his 360 results, along with the expectations of improved performance, as is our normal process, but has since been given the full report,” Osburn stated.

Ledbetter then described an alleged incident during the SPD holiday party at which Foley reportedly “lost her temper over a small incident” directed toward Kwitkin.

“Leon has witnessed and also been the object of disrespect, inappropriate conduct and retaliation from the chief,” the letter continued, alleging that “Leon raised concerns about the chief and the chief’s conduct … [and] became the object of an investigation.”

“The investigation cleared Sgt. Leon of any concern; yet, Sgt. Leon did not receive a promotion within the department, even though she was the highest-scoring candidate, when she applied to become a lieutenant,” Ledbetter wrote.

“The history of hostility and retaliation is well-known in the department,” Ledbetter alleged. “It is also both odd and unusual that the chief is not on paid administrative leave while an investigation is occurring.”

Ledbetter stated that “historically, the city has placed individuals under similar investigations on administrative leave, which creates an environment for concerned employees and witnesses to freely come forward without fear of retaliation.”

“We know that other department employees would verify our clients’ concerns and would raise significant concerns of their own, if they could do so without fear of retaliation,” Ledbetter concluded.

Police Personnel

■ Foley was hired by SPD in January 2005 as a dispatcher and became a police officer later that year. She was a K-9 officer with her partner, Dalan, for several years. Foley was promoted to sergeant in 2015 and lieutenant in 2018. In June 2021, she was promoted to become the city’s first deputy police chief under Police Chief Charles Husted. After Husted retired in August 2022, Foley was appointed chief in September by Osburn.

■ Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Kwitkin worked for the Boca Raton Police Department in Florida for 24 years, retiring as a lieutenant. In Boca Raton, Kwitkin served as an officer, field training officer, a tactical team sergeant, road patrol sergeant and lieutenant, and with the Crisis Negotiation Team as a member and later team commander. Foley hired him as deputy chief in May 2023. According to the city of Sedona’s website, Kwitkin supervises the Investigation Unit, the Partners Against Narcotic Trafficking task force affiliated with SPD, the school resource officer and the Community Watch Team.

■ Leon began her career with the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office in 2005, serving as a patrol sergeant until 2018, supervising the Criminal Investigations Bureau. She was hired by SPD in 2018 as a sergeant.