 In part, the need was spurred when early retirement incentives led
to the resignations of the assistant police chief, Harley Mullins;
three other ranked police officers; and the fire chief, James Davis.
Mullins agreed to fill the assistant chief position as a
consultant until a new assistant could be chosen and trained.
The fire department has no chief. Four assistant chiefs are
temporarily covering the day-to-day operations.
The assistant police chief selection has been at the mayor's
recommendation to the council at the start of each fiscal year, and
the council approves it.
Police Chief Stuart Erlenbush proposed that the city ordinance
make two changes to the assistant police chief selection:
Law enforcement and finance committees met on Dec. 3 to sort
through several issues with the assistant police chief selection
process. Present for the finance committee: David Armbrust, Wanda
Lee Rohlfs, Verl Prather, Marty Neitzel and Kathy Horn. Representing
the law enforcement committee: Neitzel, Horn, Rohlfs, Joni Tibbs and
Buzz Busby.
The police and fire commission have been reviewing candidates to
fill openings in both departments. Candidates go through a lengthy
testing process.
Two candidates have been hired and entered in training for the
police department.
Under the traditional practice, the commission also had tested
and was ready to recommend a candidate for the assistant police
chief.
Alderman Verl Prather felt that it would not be right to change
the selection process midstream on this individual.
Mayor Beth Davis explained to the combined committees that there
had been several changes in the police and fire commission this year
that impeded their progress on this matter. She emphasized that she
had met with the candidate during this process and explained to him
that there might changes that could affect if he would be chosen.
Alderman and police chair Kathy Horn said, "Some people can take
a test and do well. That doesn't necessarily mean that they would be
the best person in that position."
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"The way we have it now, particularly if we only have one candidate
on the list, does not allow any input from the chief, who has to
work with him. There's a lot that should be weighed, not just a
test," she added.
Officers in the police department
fill the following roles:
-
Patrolman -- opening
position; serves on the street
-
Corporal -- a minimum
of three years with the department
-
Sergeant -- a minimum
of five years with the department
-
Assistant chief -- a
minimum of five years with the department
Erlenbush said that he personally would not choose anyone who was
not at the rank of sergeant.
The ordinance allows that if a deputy chief were not to be kept
in that position, the person would be allowed to resume their former
rank in the department. They may also improve their rank while
holding the office of deputy chief.
The council approved a new ordinance 8-2, with Prather and Benny
Huskins voting no.
The new ordinance allows for the police chief to appoint the
deputy chief with the advice and consent of the mayor and the city
council. The position is to be filled by a current member of the
department with at least five years of full-time service.
Council members will be examining each of the other department
structures and bringing city code in line with state law and the
fire and police commission regulations. Fire department chair Melody
Anderson has said the fire department code needs some changes also.
You can see the full ordinance from the city of
Lincoln home page
under
codes; ordinances pending codification; Ordinance 660: Assistant
Chief of Police.
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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