Police & City Discuss 'Vote of No Confidence' at Council

Wilmington Police Department

At the July 3, 2025, Wilmington City Council meeting, Chief Detective Jack Coates spoke about the police union's "vote of no confidence" in Mayor Pat Haley, expressing his frustration due to the alleged hiring of a private firm to investigate Sugartree Ministries.

Coates provided city council members with signed contracts between the city and Silvania Investigative Services (SIS) for over $14,000 to perform covert operations, despite Haley's previous denial, according to Coates. He claimed the administration allocated a $50,000 operative budget to investigate Sugartree Ministries, which he forwarded to the State Auditor and Ohio Attorney General. Coates also accused city administration of using personal emails on contracts to prevent them from being public record. To conclude his speech, Coates stated, "I'm asking City Council to remove all administration that I've named and place them on administrative leave with no access to city buildings, city computers, or any other form or record that they may attempt to destroy, and ask [city law director] Mr. Kaspar to consider a Brady designation for the mayor, as he lied to the American people, who put their faith in him to run a municipality."

Later in the meeting, Nick Eveland, Public Safety Director, spoke out against the accusations, noting that pending lawsuits did not allow him to share everything. He stated, "The allegations that were made about Sugartree Ministries and the investigation of Sugartree Ministries is total bunk." He claimed the city planned to conduct an investigation, but did not intend to target Sugartree Ministries specifically, but instead planned to put an undercover officer by UDF and Speedway. He stated, "We thought that would lead us to some of the alleged buys that were taking place down at Sugartree Ministries." According to Eveland, the city proposed and considered a contract with SIS; however, the operation was leaked. Eveland defended that while the city swore in a potential officer for this, that did not mean they were hired, only that they took an oath to protect the city.

To learn more or watch previous city council meetings, visit wilmingtonohio.gov