Stephanie Foley, the Sedona Police Commissioner, has lodged a detailed 157-page complaint against Mayor Scott Jablow, who responded with a three-page complaint of his own.

In her complaint submitted on July 27, Foley claims that since his promotion to Chief in August 2022, Jablow has subjected her to ongoing scrutiny, micromanagement, and abuse of authority. She describes this as harassment that disrupts daily operations within the police department and involves attempts to manipulate police station policies.

In contrast, Jablow accuses Foley of fostering a hostile work environment through retaliation and strict discipline, claiming she creates fear among the police officers to maintain control.

Foley, citing numerous pieces of evidence including emails, text messages, and audio recordings, detailed 40 incidents of concern from August 3, 2023, to July 16, 2025. She describes these instances as deliberate efforts to undermine her authority and contribute to constant harassment.

Gender Discrimination

Foley has also alleged that Jablow’s actions amount to gender-based discrimination, arguing that they serve to reinforce a toxic, hypermasculine culture within the policing organization that is not motivated by sexual intentions, but rather by damaging masculinity norms.

Before resigning as an accident investigator, Jablow served as a police officer for the Port Authority in New York and New Jersey and has rebuffed claims that he is just a “retired police officer.”

Foley noted that her performance evaluations have been positive, indicating her competence in managing the department despite what she describes as Jablow’s continuous disruptions.

Foley criticized Jablow for bypassing her in obtaining information related to the police department, alleging that he frequently oversteps his boundaries and interferes inappropriately in various operations.

“Instead of adhering to proper urban protocols, he often undermines command structures,” she noted, asserting that Jablow has been relentless in his attempts to force her out of her position.

Harassment and Micromanagement

According to Title 2 of the Sedona City Code, city staff, including mayors and police officials, should be managed as a group rather than receiving individual directives. The City Council must make decisions through formal votes in public meetings.

Foley has named several witnesses to the alleged harassment, including the Deputy Mayor of Sedona and other city officials.

Foley claims that Jablow attempted to place her on administrative leave during an investigation in March 2024 and communicated negative statements about her to other officials, questioning her reliability.

After reporting these incidents, Foley received support from her superior, who indicated that Jablow’s harassment needed to be addressed, even considering returning if necessary.

Incident Examples

■ On August 4, 2023, Osburn expressed concerns to Jablow, reminding him that elected officials should focus on policy rather than daily operations, warning against micromanaging.

■ On December 12, 2023, during a council meeting, Jablow criticized Foley’s enforcement of a traffic act while promoting a related ordinance.

■ On February 14, 2024, Jablow questioned the adequacy of police briefings provided by Foley’s staff.

Osburn remarked that she wouldn’t forward Jablow’s emails, stating that the police chief’s morning notice didn’t justify his concerns about insufficient council information.

■ On April 18, 2024, Councilman Fultz expressed his dissatisfaction about Jablow’s interference with Foley’s role.

■ Kwitkin, a recently hired deputy, alleged harassment by Foley and requested administrative leave, suggesting conspiracy between them.

Foley was ultimately cleared in May 2024 during an external investigation, which also led to an inquiry into Kwitkin’s conduct, resulting in his dismissal for violations of SPD policy.

Later, Kwitkin publicly contested the findings of the investigative report exonerating Foley.

■ On November 4, 2024, Deputy Mayor Dickie noted the extent of Jablow’s concerns about police staffing and directives given to police officials.

■ In March, Foley alleged that Jablow disrupted the hiring process for police commanders, breaching protocols.

In response, Jablow submitted a rebuttal and called for an independent investigation into Foley.

In his list of complaints, he accused Foley of attempting to intimidate him regarding public records requests and denied involvement in any alleged anonymous communication regarding his actions.

“Unfortunately, this is a staffing issue, and we are unable to respond at this time,” Jablow stated on August 19. Foley, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of maintaining investigation integrity in her communications.

The situation continues to evolve, with underlying tensions clear within the police department, and more developments anticipated.