Removing The Police Department From Oro Valley Politics (Part 2)

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Yesterday's post gave the history behind why Chief of Police Sharp reports to the seven member town council and not to the town manager.

As we have heard so often from Council Member Mary Snider, we are Oro Valley and we are unique when it comes to our police.

Yes. We are unique when it comes to our police.  In most Arizona communities, the chief reports to the town manager for budget and evaluation purposes.  In some, the town manager can hire and fire the chief.

But, not in Oro Valley.  Instead, there is a situation in which the police have extraordinary influence and power. A situation in which they are able to assert major influence over politicians and elections.  They are able to do this because no one is responsible for monitoring and evaluating their operations or, in the present case, their spending.

Mayor Hiremath's position is that the council should not "get into the weeds", when it comes to the 2013-14 town manager recommended budget.  We ask: Who, exactly, challenges the police budget, Mr. Mayor, if you don't; because it is not Mr. Caton's responsibility to do so?  You must get "into the weeds"on the police budget, Mr. Mayor.  In 2011, you voted for that to be so.
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Today, there is no oversight of the police budget.  It is not Town Manager Caton's job.  He has no authority to do anything that involves the police because the department does not report to him.  It is of no benefit for him to get involved without that authority. In fact, it would be political suicide.

There are only 3 members of council who have challenged the 2013-14 police budget.  That is too few to make an impact because a vote of 4 would be required.

At the May 1 council meeting, Council Member Zinkin offered some challenge to the police budget.   Council Member Garner discussed the need for greater efficiency in police spending.

Council Member Burns recommended that the council consider changing the reporting relationship of the police chief back to the the town manager, so that some significant oversight would occur.  He noted four reasons to return to the town manager police and evaluation model, a model that appears to be relatively common among Arizona communties:

1. The Council does not adequately provide the professional oversight required;
2. This change in the reporting relationship would remove the police department from being the political "football" that it has become;
3. The town is being run by professionals, as Mayor Hiremath has so often noted. These professionals should oversee the police department; and
4. Oversight by the town manager would increase the synergy, for example, resource sharing, among town departments and town resources.

Council Member Zinkin, having surveyed the reporting relationships in a number of cities and towns, agrees with Brendan.  "I intend to make it an agenda item in a future meeting."

Council Member Joe Hornat said that he is open to listening to a discussion of the pros and cons.  Hornat also voiced confidence in the management abilities of current Town Manager Caton.

Former Council Member Barry Gillaspie, the lone vote in 2011 against removing the town manager from police oversight, continues to agree with his stated position: "I still stand by the statement," Barry said during our talk with him last week.  He noted that the current set-up allows the police department to play a game of "divide and conquer" among the 7 "bosses."  Please 4 and you win!  The police department budget deserves scrutiny.  It gets no scrutiny now.
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We don't know if the council will discuss the situation. We don't know when they will discuss it. We don't know if the council will seek to change the situation. We do know, however, that it is a worthwhile conversation because the size of the police budget and its fast growth rate deserve scrutiny on behalf of the people of Oro Valley.
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