Tired of getting caught in political cross-fire, police chiefs are seeking job protection.
The Missouri Police Chiefs Association convinced the state Legislature last month to make it more difficult for cities to dismiss their chiefs.
But the Missouri Municipal League, which represents many chiefs鈥 employers, is pushing back and wants Gov. Jay Nixon to veto the measure. Under the bill, police chiefs could be ousted only for insubordination, committing a felony, violating a written city policy and a few other specified reasons. Moreover, dismissal would require a two-thirds majority vote of a city鈥檚 governing board.
Currently, 鈥渢hey can be simply removed from their position without being given a reason or cause,鈥 said Sheldon Lineback, the chiefs association鈥檚 executive director.
A key supporter of the bill 鈥 Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt, a former Glendale alderman 鈥 added that it would keep chiefs from getting 鈥渃aught in these political wars鈥 between factions fighting for control of city councils.
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However, Richard Sheets, deputy director of the municipal league, complained that the measure would require police chiefs to be treated differently than a city鈥檚 other department heads.
He said that all directors, including chiefs, 鈥渁re part of a management team.鈥 But he said the bill would prevent mayors and councils from making a change at chief because they decide 鈥渢hey need someone with different skills.鈥
That鈥檚 not among the reasons for dismissal specified in the bill.
Sheets also said the bill would in effect alter the governing set-up in cities in which the police chief is hired by a city manager.
Another critic 鈥 Democratic Rep. Jill Schupp, a former Creve Coeur councilwoman 鈥 said councils should be free to act 鈥渋f they feel there are reasons to dismiss.鈥
Lineback said chiefs should have some independence because of their law enforcement role.
One chief recently fired was Rickey Collins of Pine Lawn, who was ousted late last month. Collins declined to comment on the state bill except to point out that it wouldn鈥檛 be retroactive.
Also refusing to comment was Mayor Sylvester Caldwell.
Collins had said previously that aldermen voted 5-3 to oust him. That margin would have fallen short of the two-thirds majority required by the pending state bill.
Lineback, in explaining the need to spell out dismissal procedures, cited previous controversies over the ouster of an O鈥橣allon, Mo., chief in 2005 and the attempted dismissal of an Overland chief in 2006.
However, he said the association鈥檚 push for the bill had nothing to do with the resignation last year as St. Charles chief by the association鈥檚 current president, Dennis Corley. Lineback said the legislation had been discussed previously.
Corley and Mayor Sally Faith signed an agreement last year that said it was 鈥渋n their respective best interests to discontinue鈥 their employment relationship.
Corley, who was hired as chief in 2007 by a previous mayor, left after Faith and the city human resources office looked into complaints filed by members of the city鈥檚 police officers association.
Corley now is police chief for the Terminal Railroad Association of 50度灰视频. He has declined to comment on his departure from St. Charles.
Under the pending state bill, a city board would have to give a chief at least 10 days鈥 notice that his removal was being considered at an upcoming meeting, along with reasons.
The chief would be allowed to state his case at the meeting and present witnesses and evidence.
Among other reasons allowed by the bill for dismissal:
鈥 Inability to perform competently as a result of a mental condition, including alcohol or substance abuse.
鈥 Acting with 鈥渁 reckless disregard鈥 for the safety of the public or another law enforcement officer.
鈥 Acting 鈥渇or the sole purpose of furthering his or her self-interest鈥 or in a manner 鈥渋nconsistent鈥 with the interests of the governing body or the public.
Rep. Jeff Roorda, D-Barnhart and a former Arnold police officer, said he didn鈥檛 oppose giving chiefs due process protection. But he said he voted against the bill because it didn鈥檛 also write into state law similar rights for rank-and-file officers. He said some cities had 鈥渢he appearance of due process鈥 for officers, but he contended that in most places it amounted to a 鈥渞ubber stamp鈥 for management.
Roorda is business manager for the 50度灰视频 Police Officers Association, which didn鈥檛 take a position on the bill.
The measure doesn鈥檛 apply to the more than 30 elected police chiefs and city marshals across Missouri or to elected county sheriffs.
Nixon鈥檚 office didn鈥檛 comment on the bill.