Strong words and frustration in Hanford over a proposal to layoff 20 percent of the police force.
And a top city official is accused of being behind the move - retaliation against his critics.
The city council held a special session Thursday night.
Picketers held up signs calling for the City Manager to be fired and criticizing a consultant's report that recommended laying off 20 percent of the city's police department.
"After the Matrix (consultant's) plan was released Monday, I left this beautiful historic building in complete disgust," said Hanford Police Chief Carlos Mestas.
Mestas and others in the department contend the proposed layoffs are retaliation. Police officers delivered a vote of no confidence in City Manager Hilary Straus a year ago.
"I am aware someone in this room wanted to get rid of some sworn mid-management and staff. I was aware that they wanted to get rid of certain persons in the department and in city management, not positions but persons," said Mestas.
The city manager is under fire and so is former mayor Dan Chin. Chin stepped down as mayor a few months ago, but he remains on the council.
CBS47 has obtained a confidential complaint, sent to the Kings County Grand Jury. It accuses Councilman Chin of helping a woman file a claim against the city and then encouraging the city to pay her off. The claim is anonymous and it has not been authenticated, but the city council took it under review.
A former city councilwoman scolded the current council for not addressing the allegations sooner.
"Why does it take a month when there are allegations of impropriety to schedule a meeting?" said Tammy Pick.
The allegations could open the city to a lawsuit.
Mayor Sue Sorensen wouldn't comment on specifics of the complaint but she would talk about the proposed police cuts.
"I will tell you i will in no way support putting our public safety in jeopardy," Sorensen said.
The police department cuts are just proposed at this point. The council would have to make them official.
