The city of Sedona has recently closed the chapter on an investigation addressing complaints of a hostile work environment made by Chief of Police Stephanie Foley against former Mayor Scott Jablow, and vice versa. An external investigation, conducted to shed light on these allegations, has provided some conclusive findings.
The independent inquiry found that Foley's claims against Jablow held water, establishing that the former mayor did indeed create a tense atmosphere for her at the police department, interfering with her role as Chief, with hopes of ousting her. However, the investigation, as reported by Sedona's official website, found no gender discrimination tied to Jablow's actions. On Jablow's front, his allegations claiming harassment and retaliation from Foley were not substantiated by the investigation's findings.
In the aftermath of these findings, Sedona is looking to mend its public image and regain trust. Newly appointed Mayor Holli Ploog emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “With the results from this investigation complete, it’s time restore the public trust that has been eroded through mistakes in the past.” Likewise, City Manager Anette Spickard underscored the commitment to reestablishing a collaborative leadership team.
In addition to the primary investigation, a separate probe was prompted by a social media post dated September 19, 2025, that accused Jablow of potential sexual harassment and misuse of city funds. The results from this second inquiry concluded that there was insufficient evidence to back the sexual harassment claims. According to the investigation's findings, while the complainant did not accuse Jablow of illegal conduct, they depicted behaviors that could be seen as inappropriate in a different light. It was also determined that Jablow and the complainant shared a personal relationship, independent of his official capacity. As for the financial allegations, investigators did not find any indication of misappropriated city funds by Jablow, with financial records affirming legitimately spent city money, according to the same report on Sedona's website.
The investigations’ outcomes provide a measure of closure on the issues that have shadowed the city administration, allowing Sedona’s leaders to now channel their focus on furthering the welfare of their community and upholding the values that represent their citizenry.
