A day after the Lakeland Police Department handed down a no confidence vote to Chief Lisa Womack a meeting was held at City Hall.

Womack never showed up to the meeting.

On Wednesday, the majority of officers and other employees of LPD voted that they have no confidence in Womack's leadership. The total tally was 152 to 123.



Commissioner Keith Merritt, who has stood by Womack's side, had a change of heart after the results of the vote came down.



"I think it’s time for the police chief to consider offering her resignation for the better of the city," said Merritt. "No matter what the truth of the matter is, she’s not perceived well."

Other city leaders who have backed Womack in the past are also taking a closer look.

"I think she’s a very good chief," said Commissioner James Malless. "The question is is she the right chief for Lakeland right now. I’ve got to make that decision early next week."

Members of the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association were split on the issue with 80 votes each.



Union president Nick Marolda said he isn't sure what to make of the split.

"It's interesting," Mardola said. "I didn't know what to expect."

Police spokesman Sgt. Gary Gross said he notified Chief Womack about the decision.

"She is happy, she said, that every employee in the department had a chance to be able to be heard, civilian and sworn," Gross said.

Womack did not comment publicly.

In 2013, the Lakeland PD faced a widespread scandal that included a large sexual misconduct investigation, criminal cases tainted by procedural mistakes, the arrest of an officer on charges he sexually abused and stalked a woman and a grand jury investigation into problems with Womack and the department's handling of public records.

The vote is non-binding. The decision on whether to keep the police chief is up to the city manager.

"Now we can put this behind us and we can move forward," Gross said. "We are looking forward to 2014 and continue to make improvements and move forward."

Sgt. Gross said the mayor and other city officials have been notified about the results.

Mayor Howard Wiggs and Commissioner Don Selvage already called for Womack's resignation, prior to the vote.

Full Statement from Lakeland City Manager Doug Thomas:

"I have just received the results of the non-binding votes regarding confidence in Chief Lisa Womack by unionized sworn and non-union civilian personnel in the Lakeland Police Department.

It is important to note that the Chief of Police is not an elected position and the outcome of the voting does not result in her removal from her position as Chief of Police. However, the results of the vote are concerning because it represent the current pulse of both sworn and non-sworn Departmental personnel.

I plan to meet with the leadership of the various employee groups at the Lakeland Police Department to discuss their feelings and concerns to better understand the particular issues that impacted their individual voting, especially among non-unionized civilian personnel. I will also be meeting with Chief Womack to discuss her perspectives of tonight’s outcome and how she and the administration at the Lakeland Police Department can best address the concerns regarding the Department.

The City will also gain further insight on particular issues that may have influenced tonight’s outcome from the employee survey process that is scheduled to be administered in the first quarter of 2014. These steps will help us further evaluate the direction the Department as we continue to work toward addressing employee and public concerns that LPD has faced over the past year. The Lakeland Police Department has a very dedicated staff and we appreciate their hard work and commitment to this community."