The Debate: Where Should The The Oro Valley Police Department Report? (Part 3)

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Monday, we published part 1 of this 4 part series on the debate of where the police department should report: To the town council, as is the present case, or to the town manager.  Yesterday, we presented the support provided by the prevailing side, those who want the department to continue to report to council.  Today, we continue by presenting the case for having the department report to the town manager.


The police department reports to the town manager in almost all arizona cities and towns

Council Member Mike Zinkin reported his extensive research regarding the reporting relationship of the police department in cities and towns.

Essentially, Zinkin noted, in almost all instances, the department reports to one person, and that person is the town or city manager.  In other words, a police department reporting to the town manager is a "best practice."

The council can not provide police department oversight unless it meets openly at a council meeting to discuss police operations

Council Member Burns observed that the code requires the council to oversee the operations of the department.  "The majority of the council has to give Chief Sharp direction. We have something in Arizona called the 'Open Meeting Law.' If Chief Sharp wants to do something...[as it now stands] he needs 4 of th 7 of us [to agree].  4 of 7 of us can not talk about this [outside of a council meeting] because it violates the law. To truly have a discussion and get consensus, we have to put this on the agenda, open it up to the public, and describe day to day operations if that is the direction we intend to take."

Simply put, in Burns' view, it is not feasible for the council to do this.

Council does not meet to discuss police department operations at any time. The council is simply not doing its job.

Burns further noted that the council has never discussed police operations at any of its meetings except if an item as on the "consent agenda."  "That's not day-to-day management," Burns observed.  He further noted that, even when they did discuss police operations during the special budget sessions, nothing was explored in detail.  There was no voting. There was no consensus.  Thus, for example, the departments "take home car" policy did not get properly inspected, according to Burns.

Best management practices stress clear guidance to subordinates

Further, when it comes to the "It ain't broke don't fix it" philosophy:  "It doesn't sit with me. I've never been a part of an effective organization that doesn't have good management that provides clear guidance to subordinates and insures that that guidance is implemented.  I don't think we are doing that as a council. Mr. Caton is more than capable and I think that is where it needs to be."

"Everyone needs a boss."

Council Member Garner observed: "It is totally inadequate to think 7 individuals [can oversee the operations of the department] and then we're going to majority vote things.... We've put it in our code. We are his (police chief) superior. Micromanaging... That's our job by code."

Oversight by the town manager removes the department from Oro Valley politics

Council Member Garner, who has been the brunt of criticism for 5 years because of his desire to actually do the job of overseeing the police department, as required by law, wants to discussion of the department from politics.  "We put the police chief [reporting to] the manager where 99.9%  jurisdictions do."  Referring to all member of council and the friction that occurs among them on the department: "Let's get the political nonsense out of it."

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Tomorrow, in Part 4, we will present our analysis.
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