Should the City of Lima look outside the fire and police department when looking for their next chief? That was the question brought up for discussion during the human resources committee meeting tonight.
The committee didn’t take any action on the topic but wanted to open up the discussion to see if this would be a good idea or not for the city. Currently, under the current revised code, majors in the police department and the deputy chiefs in the fire department would take the civil service exam to determine who would be chief. But some committee members see a benefit to expanding the search outside of Lima, as well as within the departments, to become the head of the safety service positions.
“If there is someone out there that has had success, who has seen change in their city and are willing to come to our city and work with our police department and work with our community, why not give them the availability to come and be interviewed. I am not saying we are hiring them. As council, that is not our job to say who to hire or not to hire. But it is our responsibility to set the parameters for that. And that is what this conversation was about tonight," said Rebecca Kreher, 4th Ward City of Lima.
Both the current police and fire chiefs and mayor David Berger disagree with the idea and believe the hiring process could turn political if people want to have the edge for the top position. Plus they also believe that current candidates will not have the incentive to stay if the process is opened up to outside hiring.
“And what happens is your best, most qualified candidates are going to go somewhere else. But you say ‘Oh yeah, we will be bringing in the best and the brightest from someplace else.’ Yes until a better position comes along at a different agency that pays better,” said Chief Kevin Martin, Lima Police Department.
The committee also heard a request to create a mayor-appointed position for chief technology officer, who would oversee the new department of technology and innovation for Lima. The committee like the idea of having this position and department. but didn’t want it to be appointed by the mayor, instead make it a civil service position. The committee voted to send the recommendation to the council as a whole for further discussion.
