Fort Smith panel set to rethink police hires

FORT SMITH — The Civil Service Commission agreed Tuesday to meet and consider the police chief’s request for a rule that would allow persons from outside the Police Department to apply for supervisory positions on the force.

The five-member commission, minus Chairman Chip Sexton who recused, will set a meeting, probably in August, to consider Fort Smith Police Chief Nathaniel Clark’s proposal to amend Section 12 of the commission’s rules and regulations to accept applications from qualified persons from other police departments, civilians and the military for sergeant, lieutenant, captain and major positions on the force.

Those positions now are filled by promotions of existing members of the Police Department.

The commissioners could not discuss the rule change Tuesday because a 10-day notice to the media and public was required. By then, interim commission Chairman Bob Cooper said he will have undergone hip surgery and will require about four weeks to recover.

Sexton said he was recusing because of a perception that he would not be impartial and accusations that he treated Clark disrespectfully at a May 22 meeting when Clark first took the request to the commission. Sexton apologized Tuesday to Clark and said he had no intention of being disrespectful.

Sexton also asked that the Fort Smith Board of Directors consider a resolution that no matter what decision the commission makes on Section 12, there would be no attempt to abolish the commission.

After the May 22 commission meeting, City Director Andre Good called for dissolution of the Civil Service Commission. Good did not present any such proposal to the board.

Before recusing Tuesday, Sexton asked Clark, “I want to ask the chief on Section 12, do you consider that to be about qualifications or diversity?”

“Section 12 is about getting the best and most qualified applicant,” Clark responded.

Fort Smith officials and others in the community have raised concerns about the lack of cultural and racial diversity in the Police Department and in other city departments and have called for more efforts to increase diversity in public jobs.

Fort Smith city directors passed a resolution by a vote of 4-3 at their June 6 meeting supporting Clark’s proposed changes to the commission’s rules and encouraged the commissioners to approve changes to Section 12.

Clark brought the proposal before the commission on May 22 but the commissioners rejected it, saying outside officers would lack familiarity with the city and Arkansas law. One commission member, Charlotte Tidwell, voted for the change, saying competition was good and that diversity was needed.

The Fort Smith chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police has voiced its opposition.