Fort Wayne will contract anything out to outside consultants
Posted by Mike Sylvester - 6/3/08 @ 5:22 pm - Filed Under Local Politics
The lead article in today’s News Sentinel should be read by every resident of Fort Wayne:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080603/NEWS/806030307
One of the most important roles of local government is its police services. Our police department has “contracted” with a private lawyer who will choose an “outside contractor” to analyze a shooting incident that occurred last year in Fort Wayne.
The taxpayers are going to pay for a consultant, who will in turn hire another consultant, who will in turn determine if a probationary employee of the police department will be retained or fired.
I am sick of our local government hiring contractors for everything!
Rusty York and the Board of Public Safety need to make a management decision and they do not need to hire consultants to help them make this management decision.
I have been a Manager in two private businesses and I have made hard decision in both of those roles. I have fired people, I have disciplined people, etc. That is the job of a manager.
Mike Sylvester
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8 Responses to “Fort Wayne will contract anything out to outside consultants”
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Thr Richard legacy includes tens of millions of dollars paid to outside lawyers and consultants. Tom Henry promised more of the same, though I don’t think he really understood the extent of the contribuor/contractor/consultant structure put in place over the last 8 years. I still have hope things will change as Henry discovers the mess left behind by others.
I am troubled by this because it will provide a method of hiding information. Had the hearing been held before the Board of Safety it would had been a public hearing.
If Chief York just wanted to fire the officer I believe he could have because of him being a probation officer. Then again maybe that is not what we are paying Chief York for. I am starting to wonder what Chief York is getting paid for?
I am deeply concerned if I remember correctly in the Fort Wayne newspaper that this officer fire 17 shots. I hope it was a misprint or I am screwed up in what I read. Because if not, I have to ask what kind of weapon was this probation officer shooting with?
My understanding is that this officer was a vet of serving in Iraq, which I thank him for serving. However, did the command of the FWPD fail this gentlemen by putting him such a position as they did. That his natural TRAINED AND INSTILLED reaction be that if himslef or his fellow officers come under assult is to shoot to kill, by whatever means.
In many cases, the use of an “outside” consultant, especially in police work, is a method of giving the appearance of Fairness. The fact is, the consultant, in most cases will meet with the person who hired he/she and with a wink and a nod, turn out what ever answer the payor wants. Then, any critizism is removed from the chief.
This rookie either violated a regulation or he didn’t. He broke the law or he didn’t. As J.Q taxpayer says, he’s on probation! Do your job, chief. Hire or fire. I wasn’t there, York wasn’t there. But York gets the big bucks for making hard decisions. My old Grand-Daddy told me. ‘The boss ain’t always right but, he’s always boss!
First I need to disclose- i have NO inside information on this.
But I am thinking that since the family of the decedant had hired an attorney an outside consultant could provide more cover for the city from an expensive lawsuit.
Kevin - I think that this is a total cop out (if true).
They will get sued - regardless of the outcome. Why insert a consultant in the middle of this chaos? Maskes no sense.
So the chief is not only abdicating his responsibility to make a management decision but also on what consultant will end up doing his job for him!?!
Indiana Statutes provide the Officer may have a hearing before the Board of Safety. The consultant is not empowered to “fire” the officer.
The Chief brings the charge and then there may be a hearing, if the officer requests, before the Board can dismiss the officer and thereby terminate the employment.
Take a look at Indiana Code 36-8-3 for the disciplinary oversight responsible to the Safety Board. Look to 36-8-4 for probationary officers and the Safety Board requirements.
Thanks
Actually Ron, it appears the Indiana Code does NOT provide a hearing for “Probationry” officers. The section quoted below directly spells out the proceedure.
IC 36-8-4-12
Probationary appointments
Sec. 12. The safety board may provide that all appointments to the police or fire department are probationary for a period not to exceed one (1) year. If the safety board finds, upon the recommendation of the chief of the department during the probationary period, that the conduct or capacity of a member is not satisfactory, the safety board shall notify the member in writing that he is being suspended or that he will not receive a permanent appointment. If a member is notified that he will not receive a permanent appointment, his employment immediately ceases. Otherwise, at the expiration of the probationary period, the member is considered regularly employed.
As added by P.L.361-1983, SEC.2.