Mayor Ron Littlefield will not be rushed.
In a Monday e-mail to the City Council and mayor, Councilman Andraé McGary called for the mayor to appoint a police chief earlier than the City Charter's June 30 deadline.
"As the summer dawns upon us, it is now more critical than ever that we see a new police chief appointed," the e-mail began.
The councilman said he was concerned that if the mayor waits until late June, he will stress the new chief's abilities to address summer crime and reorganize the department.
Mr. McGary also noted that, if the mayor waits until late June, it would put approval of the new chief in the middle of budget discussions.
Mr. Littlefield's spokesman, Richard Beeland, said the mayor would appoint a chief by the deadline and that the council can take as long as it wishes to either confirm or deny the appointment.
"They have as long as they want to discuss it," he said.
Mr. Beeland said the deadline gives the mayor 90 days to make an appointment but does not limit the time the council takes to review and decide on it.
The mayor proposed hiring former police Chief Freeman Cooper on a three-year contract after the chief's retirement in March, but the council voted against the proposal 6-2.
At the time, Mr. Littlefield also proposed consolidating the city police and Hamilton County Sheriff's departments, with the sheriff acting as head law enforcement officer for the merged departments. Mr. Beeland said that idea was "still on the table."
Councilwoman Pam Ladd, former public safety committee chairwoman, said Mr. McGary's questions were appropriate and she had not heard any discussion of the police chief position since interim Chief Mark Rawlston was appointed.
Upon retirement, Chief Cooper used a retirement benefit available to Chattanooga fire and police employees known as the Deferred Retirement Option Plan, which enables a worker to receive a lump sum payment of their retirement contributions after 25 years of work but before 30 years.
In exchange, the workers are paid a reduced monthly payment over the remainder of their retirement.
Mr. McGary also noted in his e-mail that the city should be aware of the length-of-service intentions for police chief candidates with DROP eligibility.
Chief Rawlston is eligible for his full DROP benefit, but he must retire by 2012 to get the payment. Assistant Chief Mike Williams will be eligible for the full DROP in November and also must retire by 2012 to use the program.
"Whoever is considered (as chief), we need to discuss their long-term commitment," Ms. Ladd said.
Mr. Beeland said that "it would be improper to encourage or require any city employee to not take advantage of their lawfully earned retirement benefits."
A statement from the mayor encouraged the council to "discuss the merits of the current" pension program and how it encourages premature retirement, "depriving the city of our most-experienced employees who are capable of many more years of service."