New blood needed to head police department

[ifsandbuts]

Anyone heard anything on what's going on with the police chief search? Have they made an announcement on the internal candidates yet? Please tell me they are going external!

In the Saturday story in the World about declining crime rates (World story) Chief Been seemed to be saying that now that they have a few more officers, they've solved all the problems in the department. I know some people who were involved in all that mess under LaFortune, and I don't think a lot of "civilians" are aware of how deep those conflicts run. It's going to be awhile before they are able to function as a whole. (I mean these are guys who were described in an official report as "hating" each other and refusing to give each other crucial information -- no wonder crime was spiraling around them as they squabbled!)

That's why I really, really hope the mayor has the guts to do the right thing and look outside the department for a new chief. I know the FOP endorsed Taylor, and I'm sure the union is going to be putting some heavy-duty pressure on her, so it might be too much to expect from a politician that she stand up to her strongest campaign supporters!

But we've got to have not just a well-qualified, excellent leader -- we need someone who can unify what's been a pretty dysfunctional department and move them forward, and there's no way one of the three internal candidates can do that!

We've got a lot of good people in the department, but we aren't ever going to see the results of that if we don't get someone good at the top.

[MH2010]

There is an arguement that the mayor cannot hire from outside the Tulsa Police department without violating the City of Tulsa Charter.  

Ref:  Article X Sec. 6.5

"SECTION 6.5 POLICE OFFICER PROMOTIONS. Only sworn police officers of the City may take promotion examinations for sworn police officer positions."

If a internal candidate chose to file a grievance over the mayor promoting an outside candidate to Chief of Police, she would have to defend herself against this charter violation.  It might be hard or impossible to do.  The section looks pretty straight forward to me.

[Double A]

Are there any contenders for Chief willing to end the city's sanctuary policy in regards to illegal immigration?

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by MH2010

There is an arguement that the mayor cannot hire from outside the Tulsa Police department without violating the City of Tulsa Charter.  

Ref:  Article X Sec. 6.5

"SECTION 6.5 POLICE OFFICER PROMOTIONS. Only sworn police officers of the City may take promotion examinations for sworn police officer positions."

If a internal candidate chose to file a grievance over the mayor promoting an outside candidate to Chief of Police, she would have to defend herself against this charter violation.  It might be hard or impossible to do.  The section looks pretty straight forward to me.

Wouldn't she sidestep that issue by appointing? The article says that the promotion examination may only be taken by sworn officers but in this case she would be appointing which bypasses the promotion process. Just thinking like a lawyer for a few seconds (which really hurt!).

[RecycleMichael]

I thought the city council clarified the hiring practices back in December.

The Mayor asked the council to clarify the procedure of looking internally first, but allowing externally. If I remember right, the issue talked about the legal department, but I think would still apply to the police department.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by MH2010

There is an arguement that the mayor cannot hire from outside the Tulsa Police department without violating the City of Tulsa Charter.  

Ref:  Article X Sec. 6.5

"SECTION 6.5 POLICE OFFICER PROMOTIONS. Only sworn police officers of the City may take promotion examinations for sworn police officer positions."

If a internal candidate chose to file a grievance over the mayor promoting an outside candidate to Chief of Police, she would have to defend herself against this charter violation.  It might be hard or impossible to do.  The section looks pretty straight forward to me.

Maybe I'm not a lawyer, but to me that just says only officers can take the PROMOTION examination. New hire is not a promotion.

[Breadburner]

Wasn't Ron Palmer hired from outside the state......?

[MH2010]

Well, this is what I am hearing...

If she certifies any of the three internal candidates it would be a promotion for them.  Therefore, that section in the city charter would be in effect.  If she does not certify any of the candidates, and one challenges the certification process then it would also end up in court. There are clear criteria for a person to be eligable for the chief's position. There is also another section in the City Charter that talks about appointments but I will have to look it up later.  

Some people I've talked to believe that city legal dropped the ball on the hiring practice issue. They stated the section they changed did not cover police and fire employees. This may have been an oversight by City Legal.  

The city did hire Ron Palmer from outside the city.  This was done after Drew Diamond was the Chief of Police and the FOP had a vote of no confidence in him.  As a result, the FOP decided it would be better for the department to go outside for a new chief.  Also, no internal candidates wanted to file a grievance over the matter.  This time, I don't think that will be the case.

What the mayor could do to stay in agreement with the charter is hire a police chief from within then create a new position, a "police commisioner" to oversee the police department including the chief.  She would have to find some money in the budget but people I've talked to say she could do it.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by MH2010

Well, this is what I am hearing...

If she certifies any of the three internal candidates it would be a promotion for them.  Therefore, that section in the city charter would be in effect.  If she does not certify any of the candidates, and one challenges the certification process then it would also end up in court. There are clear criteria for a person to be eligable for the chief's position. There is also another section in the City Charter that talks about appointments but I will have to look it up later.  

Some people I've talked to believe that city legal dropped the ball on the hiring practice issue. They stated the section they changed did not cover police and fire employees. This may have been an oversight by City Legal.  

The city did hire Ron Palmer from outside the city.  This was done after Drew Diamond was the Chief of Police and the FOP had a vote of no confidence in him.  As a result, the FOP decided it would be better for the department to go outside for a new chief.  Also, no internal candidates wanted to file a grievance over the matter.  This time, I don't think that will be the case.

What the mayor could do to stay in agreement with the charter is hire a police chief from within then create a new position, a "police commisioner" to oversee the police department including the chief.  She would have to find some money in the budget but people I've talked to say she could do it.

So if the FOP wants someone from outside, it's okay, but if the FOP doesn't, then we'll whup up the mayor in court?

Sorry, can't have it both ways.

[MH2010]

You gotta follow the rules. The city charter is pretty specific. Just because something wasn't challenged in the past doesn't then make it legal.  The mayor can change the city charter anytime she wants.  She just has to take it to a vote of the people.

[rwarn17588]

I predict the mayor and police union will confer before a decision is made. It's not like the two parties have bad blood between them.

[RecycleMichael]

Remember this story about how the police department was split into two factions?

This was the consultant's report after LaFortune removed Chief Been.

http://www.kotv.com/files/mayor-tpd-davebeen-report.pdf

Page 8 talks about how officers hate each other.

[RecycleMichael]

The Mayor is looking at outside candidates now.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=070224_To_A1_Polic18894

Police chief search expands By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
2/24/2007

Mayor takes search national after considering internal candidates
Mayor Kathy Taylor has decided to look outside the Tulsa Police Department to find the city's next police chief.

Deputy Chief Bill Wells, Maj. Rob Turner and Maj. Paul Williams were the three internal candidates who applied in January for the job. They were certified as meeting at least the minimum qualifications and were each interviewed by the mayor twice.

"I appreciate these three internal candidates stepping forward to offer their service in this capacity," Taylor said Friday in a prepared statement. "But our city is faced with serious issues regarding public safety and these issues demand new and innovative solutions," she said. "After listening to hours of input and reviewing hundreds of e-mails from Tulsa citizens, I must seek the person who will bring needed systematic change to the department."

Taylor said she is moving forward with a national search. "This is about excellence," she said. "This is about hiring the very best person for the job because public safety cannot and will not take a back seat in my administration."

Mayoral spokeswoman Sheryl Lovelady said Taylor is still working on the timeline for finding Chief Dave Been's replacement before his planned May 1 retirement. The city has hired a California-based executive search firm, Bob Murray & Associates, which will advertise the position nationally, Lovelady said.

Wells, a 32-year veteran of the department who served as acting chief last year while Been was on administrative leave, declined to comment. Turner, who has 28 years on the force, and Williams, who has 26 years of service, were unavailable for comment. Wells and Turner were among the candidates in the last police chief search, conducted by then-Mayor Bill LaFortune in 2002.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93 President Darin Filak said he learned of the mayor's decision late Friday afternoon. "We're going to look at the options and see what the next step would be," he said, adding that he doesn't know whether any of the internal candidates will want to file grievances. "All of the candidates are friends of mine. They're lodge members. All of them would have made good chiefs. Whoever becomes the new chief, we hope they move the department forward."

Internal candidates had to be considered before Taylor could look outside the department. Recent revisions to the city's hiring policies clarify that the mayor is allowed hire an external candidate even if there are qualified internal candidates.

In letters sent to each of the candidates Friday, Taylor said they could reapply during the external process but reasserted her authority to look outside. "While some may argue that I should select solely from internal candidates, I disagree," she said in the letters. "It is my affirmative obligation and within my authority to seek excellence whether it is within or outside of a department. I am confident that the merit system was not intended to restrict the city in the selection of the best qualified individual to lead the police department."

Taylor also addressed Tulsa's "unacceptable level of crime" in the letters. "Future leadership must be able to develop proactive and innovative strategies to measurably reduce crime while also creating stronger relationships between the TPD and our community partners," she said.

Been declined to comment about the the mayor's decision. When asked whether he would stay on the job if the search takes longer than expected, Been said, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

An independent investigation conducted last year during Been's administrative leave identified conflict and a "level of hatred" among the upper echelon of the department.

Some Tulsans who attended public forums held in December said they hoped Taylor would consider a woman or a minority.

[rwarn17588]

After being reminded of the disarray in the TPD's upper ranks, perhaps going outside is best.

[Double A]

So, how about ending the sanctuary policy towards illegal aliens? How many more innocent Tulsans like Randy Burger will have to die at the hands of illegal aliens before the TPD ends this disastrous policy?