Union objects to looking outside for chief

A grievance has been filed with Columbus over the city Civil Service Commission’s changes allowing the city to hire an external candidate as police chief.

The grievance by the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9 was directed toward Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus, saying that the change goes against the police collective bargaining agreement.

The agreement states that “all promotions within the Division of Police will come from within our ranks. Every chief ... has always come from the division,” Jason Pappas, president of the Capital City Lodge, said Wednesday.

Experts contacted by The Dispatch said it’s routine for larger cities to consider

outside candidates for police chief.

“A lot of circumstances can drive the decision to open up a search. Doing so does not preclude a community from considering an internal candidate, and internal candidates tend to garner many of the interview slots,” said Joe Schafer, a criminal justice professor at Southern Illinois University.

St. Louis, for example, interviewed six candidates for police chief last week, he said. Half were officers from within the department and half were external candidates.

Officials have said current Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs is not going anywhere unless she chooses to leave. Denise Alex- Bouzounis, a spokeswoman for the Division of Police, said there are many qualified internal candidates when Jacobs does leave.

“The chief is more than confident that there are supervisors who are more than capable of succeeding her successfully,” AlexBouzounis said.

Reasons why cities go outside for chiefs can range from senior staff members nearing retirement to a lack of qualified internal candidates.

“Sometimes, communities decide they want a fresh vision for an agency,” Schafer said. “Someone with a proven track record of confronting a relevant local problem or bringing about change/reform might be desired by city leaders and residents, so a search might be opened to locate a ‘ reform’ chief.”

Pappas said the mayor has publicly praised the city’s officers as the best in the country.

“I get that the mayor, at the end of the day, is the boss of the entire city. And I get that he wants to appoint people who are like-minded ... but if you have a problem with the Division of Police, then articulate it,” he said. “Give the current chief the ability to address whatever may be bothering you. Until then, there’s no reason to go outside and look for another candidate.”

Columbus is known for its powerful police union, which could be a force to reckon with if a police chief from elsewhere is selected in the future, experts said.

“It is important for new chiefs to compromise and find common ground with unions to ensure that they can work well together and that both sides are getting what they want,” said Edward Maguire, a criminal justice professor at Arizona State University. “Sometimes, communities hire the wrong outside chief who comes in and makes things worse — that is always a risk.”

The Dispatch reached out to city officials to ask if Mayor Andrew J. Ginther is seeking a culture change at the division.

A spokeswoman for the mayor, Robin Davis, said, “We can’t comment about a pending grievance.”

Alex-Bouzounis said no one from City Hall has contacted the division to say they are unhappy with practices.

Typically when a grievance is filed, the city responds within about 10 days. The matter is expected to go before Pettus. If he rules in the city’s favor, then the union can ask that the case be presented to an arbitrator for a binding decision. The arbitration process generally takes about eight months. Once hearings are completed, both sides will have 30 days to issue post- hearing briefs and then an arbitrator will issue a written decision within 30 days.

In the past couple of years, protesters have appeared at City Council meetings pushing for police reforms after high- profile incidents involving officers’ use of force. It’s possible city officials may look outside the division when Jacobs finishes her five- year term in 2019. Protesters have called for the resignation of Jacobs and other city officials.

“Sometimes, external candidates are sought simply for the symbolism that they will bring something new or different,” Schafer said. “When there is tension between a community and its police force, community leaders might hope an external chief can correct that situation because they won’t have ingrained thinking that some might see as perpetuating those problems.” The federal holiday for Christmas is Monday, Dec. 25. Because of the holiday:

City, county, state and federal offices are closed.

There is no regular mail delivery.

Parking meters in Columbus are free.

There is no trash collection in Columbus. The trash-color collection schedule will rotate forward one weekday until the next holiday, which will be New Year's Day observed on Monday, Jan. 1.

Rumpke curbside recycling and yard-waste collection in Columbus will be delayed by one day. Friday's collection will be on Saturday.

Central Ohio Transit Authority buses will operate on a Sunday schedule. COTA's customer service call center and its Pass Sales Office at 33 N. High St. will be closed.

All Columbus Metropolitan Library branches are closed Saturday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Dec. 25.

Columbus City Schools and other school districts are closed.

Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College are closed.