Spokane Mayor gets more hiring power

Spokane Mayor David Condon has won vast new power to hire and remove top fire and police administrators.

The Spokane City Council on Monday narrowly approved the creation of six new departments within the Police Department and seven within the Fire Department, potentially giving the mayor the power to appoint a director and assistant director of each new department.

The move was driven by police Chief Frank Straub’s proposed reorganization of the police force and the recent report from the Use of Force Commission arguing that the Police Department needs “a change in culture.” Straub says he needs more authority to hire and fire for top leadership positions without the constraints of a civil service system. More here. Jonathon Brunt, SR

Some folks have grave concerns over this move. Do you?