Public comment during the Tonawanda Town Board Meeting became tense Monday night.

The heated exchanges during the meeting came as the Town of Tonawanda Police Club issued a vote of no confidence in Police Chief Jim Stauffiger.

The board meeting was the first since Town Supervisor Joe Emminger said officers would be charged with Taylor's Law violations for participating in what he said was an illegal strike. Town officials claim police officers started the strike on Jan. 15 after a town police officer was lawfully served with disciplinary charges in connection with what they say was significant misconduct while on duty. 

The alleged striking officers, including Tonawanda Police Club President Andy Thompson, are accused of creating a picket line by not writing tickets for a three-week period. The town says the police club was advised through the town council on Jan. 29 that it was aware of the unlawful strike and that it needed to stop immediately. However, town officials claim the strike did not end until Feb. 5.

The Erie County Sheriff's Police Benevolent Association attended Monday night's meeting in support of the Town of Tonawanda Police Club. The police club says the board's lawsuit against it contains "false allegations and outright lies" in alleging the club conducted a ticket strike in recent weeks. 

The town says a full investigation is underway and it will report its findings within 60 days of the date the alleged strike ended.