Remove Gilbert Police Chief Michael Soelberg and Stop His Promotion
The Issue
Demand Accountability for Michael Soelberg: Removal from Police Leadership and Opposition to Further Promotion
To Gilbert Town Manager Mario Paniagua, Mayor Scott Anderson, and the Gilbert Town Council:
We, the undersigned residents of Gilbert, Arizona, and concerned community members, demand a change in leadership and oppose Michael Soelberg’s permanent appointment as Assistant Town Manager or promotion into another position with greater responsibility.
This petition began with concerns about his leadership during the Gilbert Goons teen violence crisis. Those concerns have not disappeared. His move into an interim management position does not resolve questions about his performance or restore the community’s trust.
Reasons for This Petition
1. Handling of Teen Violence
Chief Soelberg has faced substantial criticism over the department’s response to violent incidents involving the Gilbert Goons. Attacks dating back to 2022, followed by increased investigative activity after the October 2023 death of 16-year-old Preston Lord, raised serious questions about missed opportunities to identify patterns, investigate reported assaults, and protect teenagers.
The community deserves a clear explanation of what went wrong, what accountability followed, and how those shortcomings have been corrected.
Supporting coverage:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tWi23bXPZxo&pp=ygUYQVogY2VudHJhbCBnaWxiZXJ0IGdvb25z
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q9oYwTuC_6A&pp=ygUYQVogY2VudHJhbCBnaWxiZXJ0IGdvb25
2. Loss of Community Trust
The department’s handling of teen violence and its public explanations have damaged confidence in police leadership. Residents have questioned why separate attacks were not connected sooner and whether meaningful action depended too heavily on public pressure and news coverage.
Trust requires consistent communication, demonstrated accountability, and results.
Supporting coverage:
https://x.com/robertanglen/status/1868714514277163250?s=46
https://x.com/azcentral/status/1766182616804237677
3. Investigative Follow-Through
Reporting has raised concerns about investigations that received renewed attention following media coverage and public outcry. Residents deserve to understand whether shortcomings were identified and whether previously reported incidents received an adequate review.
Supporting coverage:
4. Families Still Waiting for Answers
Our concerns extend beyond teen violence. Families affected by unresolved cases have publicly expressed disappointment with the department’s handling of their cases and communication.
An unresolved case alone does not establish an inadequate investigation. However, families deserve regular updates, meaningful follow-through, and sustained public outreach. When families request outside assistance, the department should explain what assistance has been sought, what options remain, and how those decisions are evaluated without compromising investigations.
5. Public Records and Department Management
Lengthy public records delays undermine the community’s ability to assess the department’s work.
We ask town leadership to explain what is being done to reduce those delays, whether pending requests have been reviewed to protect responsive records from deletion, and how the town has verified that corrective measures are working.
Residents should not have to wait months for clarification about whether requested records still exist or why they are unavailable.
6. Budget Oversight
In May 2024, the Town Council approved additional funding to address a $2.3 million police department budget deficit. Reported expenses included overtime associated with staffing shortages, pay raises, and teen violence investigations, along with fleet and cellphone costs.
A budget shortfall alone does not establish mismanagement. It does warrant an explanation of how forecasting, staffing, and spending were evaluated—and how those management results factor into decisions about greater responsibility.
7. Continuing Calls for Accountability
Residents have called for Soelberg’s resignation or removal through public meetings, letters, petitions, and community discussions. Those concerns deserve a substantive response.
Supporting coverage:
What We Are Asking For
• Remove Michael Soelberg from police leadership and do not return him to the police chief position.
• Do not permanently appoint him as Assistant Town Manager or promote him into another position with greater management responsibility.
• Conduct an independent review of the department’s handling of teen violence, with safeguards for pending prosecutions and victims’ privacy.
• Publicly explain the findings and corrective actions that can appropriately be disclosed.
• Establish measurable improvements in family communication, investigative follow-through, public outreach, and public records processing.
Accountability Must Come Before Advancement
The central question remains: What demonstrated leadership and management results justify giving Michael Soelberg greater responsibility while these concerns remain unresolved?
We call on Gilbert’s town leadership to address that question publicly. Our community deserves leadership that earns its trust through actions, accountability, and consistent service to victims and their families.
Please sign and share. Signing is free. Any donation or paid promotion offered by Change.org is optional and is not required for your signature to count.
1,716
The Issue
Demand Accountability for Michael Soelberg: Removal from Police Leadership and Opposition to Further Promotion
To Gilbert Town Manager Mario Paniagua, Mayor Scott Anderson, and the Gilbert Town Council:
We, the undersigned residents of Gilbert, Arizona, and concerned community members, demand a change in leadership and oppose Michael Soelberg’s permanent appointment as Assistant Town Manager or promotion into another position with greater responsibility.
This petition began with concerns about his leadership during the Gilbert Goons teen violence crisis. Those concerns have not disappeared. His move into an interim management position does not resolve questions about his performance or restore the community’s trust.
Reasons for This Petition
1. Handling of Teen Violence
Chief Soelberg has faced substantial criticism over the department’s response to violent incidents involving the Gilbert Goons. Attacks dating back to 2022, followed by increased investigative activity after the October 2023 death of 16-year-old Preston Lord, raised serious questions about missed opportunities to identify patterns, investigate reported assaults, and protect teenagers.
The community deserves a clear explanation of what went wrong, what accountability followed, and how those shortcomings have been corrected.
Supporting coverage:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tWi23bXPZxo&pp=ygUYQVogY2VudHJhbCBnaWxiZXJ0IGdvb25z
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q9oYwTuC_6A&pp=ygUYQVogY2VudHJhbCBnaWxiZXJ0IGdvb25
2. Loss of Community Trust
The department’s handling of teen violence and its public explanations have damaged confidence in police leadership. Residents have questioned why separate attacks were not connected sooner and whether meaningful action depended too heavily on public pressure and news coverage.
Trust requires consistent communication, demonstrated accountability, and results.
Supporting coverage:
https://x.com/robertanglen/status/1868714514277163250?s=46
https://x.com/azcentral/status/1766182616804237677
3. Investigative Follow-Through
Reporting has raised concerns about investigations that received renewed attention following media coverage and public outcry. Residents deserve to understand whether shortcomings were identified and whether previously reported incidents received an adequate review.
Supporting coverage:
4. Families Still Waiting for Answers
Our concerns extend beyond teen violence. Families affected by unresolved cases have publicly expressed disappointment with the department’s handling of their cases and communication.
An unresolved case alone does not establish an inadequate investigation. However, families deserve regular updates, meaningful follow-through, and sustained public outreach. When families request outside assistance, the department should explain what assistance has been sought, what options remain, and how those decisions are evaluated without compromising investigations.
5. Public Records and Department Management
Lengthy public records delays undermine the community’s ability to assess the department’s work.
We ask town leadership to explain what is being done to reduce those delays, whether pending requests have been reviewed to protect responsive records from deletion, and how the town has verified that corrective measures are working.
Residents should not have to wait months for clarification about whether requested records still exist or why they are unavailable.
6. Budget Oversight
In May 2024, the Town Council approved additional funding to address a $2.3 million police department budget deficit. Reported expenses included overtime associated with staffing shortages, pay raises, and teen violence investigations, along with fleet and cellphone costs.
A budget shortfall alone does not establish mismanagement. It does warrant an explanation of how forecasting, staffing, and spending were evaluated—and how those management results factor into decisions about greater responsibility.
7. Continuing Calls for Accountability
Residents have called for Soelberg’s resignation or removal through public meetings, letters, petitions, and community discussions. Those concerns deserve a substantive response.
Supporting coverage:
What We Are Asking For
• Remove Michael Soelberg from police leadership and do not return him to the police chief position.
• Do not permanently appoint him as Assistant Town Manager or promote him into another position with greater management responsibility.
• Conduct an independent review of the department’s handling of teen violence, with safeguards for pending prosecutions and victims’ privacy.
• Publicly explain the findings and corrective actions that can appropriately be disclosed.
• Establish measurable improvements in family communication, investigative follow-through, public outreach, and public records processing.
Accountability Must Come Before Advancement
The central question remains: What demonstrated leadership and management results justify giving Michael Soelberg greater responsibility while these concerns remain unresolved?
We call on Gilbert’s town leadership to address that question publicly. Our community deserves leadership that earns its trust through actions, accountability, and consistent service to victims and their families.
Please sign and share. Signing is free. Any donation or paid promotion offered by Change.org is optional and is not required for your signature to count.
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Petition created on January 7, 2025