Ex-chiefs oppose at-will position

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
8/26/2007

But another former top cop says many big-city police chiefs work that way.

Two former Tulsa police chiefs said they are against Mayor Kathy Taylor's making the top cop a political appointment rather than a civil service job.

Another former chief defended the mayor's decision, which was revealed last week.

Dave Been, who retired as chief in May after five years on the job, and Harry Stege, who served from 1978-83, both said the move would be a mistake.

"The idea of being able to dismiss the police chief at will means the chief would simply be a rubber stamp for the mayor, and that's not always a good thing to have," Stege said.

"In a perfect world, maybe. But sometimes the policies of the mayor get in the way of good law enforcement."

But Drew Diamond, who was Tulsa's police chief from 1987-91, said the arrangement works in other cities.

"There's not a whole lot of civil service chiefs in the large, urban police departments," he said. "They're either in contracts or they're at-will."

Taylor intends to make the chief one of the 16 political appointments she is allowed under the City Charter.

She could remove the person who accepts the job at any time, without cause.

The mayor recently offered retiring Deputy Chief Bill Wells the post, which he declined because of the change in status. Historically, the chief has been covered under the civil service system.

Been said he knows firsthand the value of the chief's having civil service protection.

Last year, he was placed on administrative leave by then-Mayor Bill LaFortune because of a disagreement over a report that was critical of the SWAT team.

"Clearly, I would have been fired, without any recourse whatsoever, had I been an at-will employee," he said.

The flap took place during LaFortune's re-election race against Taylor -- and the political winds were blowing, Been said.

"Police should certainly be way above any political corruption or influence," he said.

But Diamond said he doesn't think an at-will chief would easily lead to corruption, which is a more complex issue.

"I don't think this would be detrimental to the Police Department," he said. "It's a choice for the city government."

Police corruption is a pivotal reason civil service was approved by city voters 50 years ago, following what is known as the Tulsa liquor conspiracy.

The Police Department was operating on the spoils system, with a new chief every year or two and officers going up and down the ranks based on who was in power.

A new administration once went so far as to fire 80 percent of the officers on the force.

Then the liquor conspiracy was uncovered.

In the commission form of government Tulsa used at the time, Police Commissioner Jay Jones was elected and then appointed Paul Livingston his police chief.

The two were among 20 men, including several police officers, who were indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to violate liquor laws. Oklahoma was a dry state until 1959.

The government alleged that they shared in payoffs to prevent the arrests of bootleggers.

Jones and Livingston both ended up convicted of misdemeanor charges.

Public outrage prompted the passage of the civil service charter amendment in October 1957 to protect employees from the pressure of elected officials.

Should Tulsa police chief be political appointment?

NO
Dave Been, who retired as police chief in May after five years on the job.

Harry Stege, who served from 1978-83.

Both believe the change would make the position a rubber stamp for the mayor.

YES
Drew Diamond, who was Tulsa’s police chief from 1987-91.

He said the arrangement works in other cities.

Brian Barber 581-8322

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer

Copyright Tulsa World 2007. Format differs from original publication.

Comments

[Jim Rice]

WOW, The Mayor has done it AGAIN!!! How can Kathy Taylor claim to be the Mayor of Tulsa when she has NO respect for the City Charter.Re-Appointing Ron Palmer as Chief of Police doesn't change anything. We still have a City Charter that says, If there are three certified candidates that the Mayor shal pick one of the three candidates, What about the City Charter does the Mayor not understand. She is violating the City Charter.My Bigger Question is Why would Ron Palmer want to be in this position. Doesnt make any sense too me.

[Jackie]

Jim, I have to say it is better to have Ron back here rather than what is here. He knows he is an At-will empolyee, so when the courts decide what was right or wrong with the current 3 that applied, he knows he will either go or stay. Thank God he took the position. I could only imagine what would have been brought in if he had not stepped in.