Scuttlebut
November 11th, 2009 by CindyWell everyone knows that reads this blog that the Cheshire Police Chief in is a sort of “No Confidence” status field. I did get a private comment (which means the commenter asked that the comment not be published), but asked basically could the Town Manager just fire Chief Cruess?
Well, as you all are aware, I am knowledgeable in just about every field known to mankind. That is why I am ready to take over as the Police Chief of Cheshire at any time!!
Of course I am kidding-AM I?? Well anyway, I don’t want to stretch the heart and hypertension situation in Cheshire any further so I will say I am kidding around.
But I will tell you one thing, If I WERE the Chief, I would have meetings with the rank and file every shift, and go over the events from the previous day, praise those that deserved praise, point out deficiencies and encourage. I would encourage toughness, honesty, fairness and accuracy.
I would also go out on patrol once a month. I would patrol on every shift so I would know what the average patrol officer is going through. I would also write a monthly newsletter on the website and make myself visible in the community as much as possible.
It is tough being in charge and I don’t envy any police chief. It is not a popularity contest, nor is it an ego contest. It is a situation where both parties have to WORK TOGETHER. When I speak with my employees, I tell them we are a team, we work WITH each other NOT just for me. I think it works.
We also get things out in the open. Airing out differences is healthy. No matter how difficult it may be or what people may perceive it to be, IT HAS BE THIS WAY. Whomever or whatever is controlling this town has to learn this that keeping things from the public, especially a police no confidence vote is counterproductive and destructive to both the community and the men and women of the Cheshire Police Department.
The people HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW. I have said this for YEARS. Now it is becoming popular rhetoric. But it must be this way. In order to solve a problem, WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
If it is just a personality difference, well you know what, that is life. DEAL WITH IT. Not liking someone or resenting someone because they got the position and you didn’t goes on ALL THE TIME IN THE BUSINESS WORLD.
Either focus on doing your best job, focus on your career and be professional or in plain English, look for another job!!
I really believe this no confidence vote is a cry for help and cry to call attention to what the rank and file may feel are leadership issues. THAT IS UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT WHAT LEADERSHIP ISSUES?? Is the Petit situation?? People need to know. Not just a few people in power in this town, ALL THE PEOPLE!!
We don’t need a consultant. We have a Public Safety Commission that could be given the powers of a Police Commission. And no it is NOT MORE GOVERNMENT.
Remember the Government IS THE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE ARE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES AFFORDED TO US BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. THE PEOPLE CONTROL THE POWER. This sort of thinking makes no sense at all in a Democracy. If that were the case, then why bother with the Congress and Senate, just have the Executive Branch. Better yet, (no not Connecticut) better yet, just have a dictatorship. Oh I forgot, we already have this in Cheshire!!
But seriously, the people who now comprise the Cheshire Public Safety Commission are quite competent and professional. They meet once a month with Lt. Markella so they already have a working relationship with a member of the Police Department. And, they are residents of this community. They know the issues. Many of them might know the officers. An outside consultant does not have this advantage.
Think about it.
Now, back to the employment issue. If the Police Chief has a contract, then if he were terminated before the contract was up, he more than likely would sue the town and or would have to be paid out. That is a waste because unless the Chief did something illegal, the town would be paying for him to stay home basically. At least now he is at his desk working.
If the Chief has no contract, then the Town Manager I believe could let him go-stating EMPLOYMENT AT WILL-WHICH CONNECTICUT RECOGNIZES. There are two instances, Connecticut recognizes that would violate the employees rights if he or she were terminated for no reason.
FYI: If the Chief were terminated and someone was put into his position that was under 40 years of age, there could be an age discrimination problem or if he were terminated because or race or sexual orientation or religious beliefs, there could also be an enormous legal problem.
Click here to read more on Employment at Will.
Here is an employment ad for a Police Chief from the Soledad, California Police Department, which is about the same size as Cheshire’s. The employment tenure is AT-WILL.
I don’t know, the Chief has been to San Diego for a Police Chief conference, maybe he should look into this. I mean, work where you are wanted and liked. I would. P.S. I don’t care what anyone thinks, I LIKE THE CHIEF. SO THERE!! He can come work for me anytime.
Here are a few stories about PoliceChiefs that were terminated-”for no reason.”
November 12th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Here is the applicable section of the Connecticut General Statutes relative to the dismissal of a municipal police head – what they do in other states doesn’t really matter here.
Sec. 7-278. Hearing prior to dismissal of municipal police head. Just cause requirement. Appeal. No active head of any police department of any town, city or borough shall be dismissed unless there is a showing of just cause by the authority having the power of dismissal and such person has been given notice in writing of the specific grounds for such dismissal and an opportunity to be heard in his own defense, personally or by counsel, at a public hearing before such authority. Such public hearing, unless otherwise specified by charter, shall be held not less than five nor more than ten days after such notice. Any person so dismissed may appeal within thirty days following such dismissal to the superior court for the judicial district in which such town, city or borough is located. Service shall be made as in civil process. Said court shall review the record of such hearing, and, if it appears upon the hearing upon the appeal that testimony is necessary for an equitable disposition of the appeal, it may take evidence or appoint a referee or a committee to take such evidence as it directs and report the same to the court with his or its findings of fact, which report shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon which the determination of the court shall be made. The court, upon such appeal, and after a hearing thereon, may affirm the action of such authority, or may set the same aside if it finds that such authority acted illegally or arbitrarily, or in the abuse of its discretion, with bad faith, malice, or without just cause.
Here are pertinent sections having to do with a police commission in the State of Connecticut:
Sec. 7-274. Establishment of town police commissions. Any town may, by ordinance, establish a board of police commissioners to be elected, in accordance with the provisions of section 9-201 or to be appointed by the council or board of directors of a town, the common council or other body empowered to make ordinances of a city, the board of burgesses of a borough or the board of selectmen of a town not having a council or board of directors, provided in a town having both a board of selectmen and a representative town meeting such ordinance may designate the representative town meeting as the appointing authority, for the purpose of organizing and maintaining a police department in such town. Such board shall consist of three, five or seven electors, all of whom shall be resident taxpayers of such town. Such commissioners shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties and shall serve without compensation, but their actual expenses and disbursements incurred in the performance of their duties shall be paid from the town treasury.
Sec. 7-276. Powers of commissioners. Such boards shall have all of the powers given by the general statutes to boards of police commissioners, shall have general management and supervision of the police department of such town and of the property and equipment used in connection therewith, shall make all needful regulations for the government thereof not contrary to law and may prescribe suitable penalties for the violation of any such regulation, including suspension or removal from office of any officer or member of such police department. Such board shall have the sole power of appointment, promotion and removal of the officers and members of such police department, under such regulations as it adopts for the purpose, and such appointees shall hold office during good behavior and until removed for cause upon written charges and after hearing. The members of such police department shall have all such authority with respect to the service of criminal process and the enforcement of the criminal laws as is vested by the general statutes in police officers and constables.
The Cheshire Public Safety Commission was formed some years ago only as advisory to the Town Council. They are in no way equipped to oversee the administration and operation of a police department. Further, they do not meet the statutory requirements to be a police commission, as outlined above. At the least, the Town Charter would have to be changed an an ordinance enacted to form a police commission in a manner consistent with state statutes.
As an aside, what was the police commission in Madison doing over the several years that all those problems there were brewing?
November 12th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Well, I never said a Police Commission was perfect. But even in Madison, at least the issues were brought to light. I think a Police Commission or some sort of Board of Review made up of Cheshire residents who have a stake in the outcome, is a lot better than what we now (nothing) or person making decisions and much better than an outside consulting firm.