Police leader on tap this week

Regardless of the person Mayor Ron Littlefield chooses as the next police chief, council members are hoping for a leader ready for changes in the police department and the city.

"We're going to be a new city with a new configuration, different demographics," Councilwoman Carol Berz said. "(The new chief) needs to have short- and long-term goals."

Interim Chief Mark Rawlston has led the department since March 30 when the City Council rejected an extended contract for former Police Chief Freeman Cooper.

According to the City Charter, the 90-day clock started ticking for the mayor to propose a candidate to lead the department.

Richard Beeland, Mr. Littlefield's spokesman, said the mayor will announce his choice at Tuesday's council meeting. The legislative body could vote whether to confirm the proposed new chief of police.

Councilman Peter Murphy said Friday that, before voting Tuesday, he will have questions regarding staffing levels, community policing and other crime prevention strategies for the mayor's selection.

Fraternal Order of Police local chapter President Sgt. Toby Hewitt said staffing and pay are two major concerns the next chief needs to address.

Throughout city budget discussions this month, the proposed addition of 40 to 50 officers and a pay increase for some officers have hovered as priorities.

After City Council budget meetings adjourned Friday, those decisions remained unresolved.

Sgt. Hewitt said that, by his count, there are 412 sworn officers on staff, 40 of whom are now eligible for retirement. That's a shortage of more than 60 officers based on late 1990s estimates that 475 officers were needed to staff the city. Since then, Chattanooga has grown in area and population.

"In a matter of weeks, we could easily be 100 officers short of where we should have been 13 years ago," Sgt. Hewitt said.

The results of an internal survey conducted by the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, released last week, showed four candidates chosen by department employees.

The order of candidates by number of votes cast is: Assistant Police Chief Bobby Dodd, Assistant Police Chief Mike Williams, Capt. Susan Blaine and interim police Chief Mark Rawlston.

Mr. Beeland said the mayor did not ask for the poll or provide a list of names, but he took the results under consideration.

"Decisions can't be made by popularity polls," Mr. Beeland said. "The naming of a police chief requires much more thought and consideration."

Councilman Manny Rico said all the internal candidates were qualified for the position, but the length of service for chiefs Rawlston and Williams was a concern because they could retire now with sizable benefits.

Both chiefs are eligible for full retirement and a retirement benefit called the DROP this year. That benefit led to the March retirement of former Chief Cooper.

Police are eligible for a lump sum pay benefit and lower monthly pension payments to retire with between 25 and 30 years of service. Officers who stay on the job beyond 30 years receive a higher monthly payment but no lump sum payment.

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