Police union wants Port St. Lucie mayor to resign

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Members of Port St. Lucie's two uniformed police unions gathered in front of city hall Thursday morning, calling for the Mayor Patricia Christensen to resign.

"This woman needs to go, she needs to leave," said John Kazanjian, President of the Palm Beach County chapter of the Police Benevolent Association, which represents officers in Port St. Lucie, too.

The dispute started last week with the arrest of the mayor’s 18-year old son, Erik on charges he gave alcohol to an underage girl.

In an email to more than 70 friends and supporters, the mayor argued the arrest was politically motivated, that police were "out for blood" because they were upset with their contract negotiations.

"That's just far from the truth," said Kazanjian.

The city is looking at cutting as many as 30 police jobs and officers now doubt they can get a fair deal with the mayor now aligned against them.

"If any one of the unions have to go to impasse she sits on the board, she sits on the board. It’s an automatic 'no,'" said Kazanjian.

"I never have taken these decisions lightly and I never will," said Mayor Christensen.

Speaking from the patio of city hall about three hours later Christensen addressed reporters, reading from a prepared statement.

In the statement she responded to the unions and apologized to the public.

"I am sorry I wrote this email and sorry that it is being used in this way. To the people of Port St. Lucie, I am truly sorry if my private email or family matters have embarrassed our city," she said.

This is not the first time the police union members have played hardball with the city. Last year they bought billboard space, criticizing the city council for cutting police jobs.

"As the elected mayor of Port St. Lucie I will not be intimidated by anyone especially by special interest groups such as the police union," said Christensen in her prepared statement.

The mayor did not take questions from reporters. She explained she was "venting" in the email and "defending my family." She went on to say she will continue to serve as mayor until her term expires in November.

The new mayor - yet to be elected - will take office November 15th.

Union leaders say they plan to contact the governor's office and pursue an ethics complaint against Christensen.