Pittsfield Police Unions Oppose Plan to Appoint Permanent Chief
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's two police unions are opposing the Mayor Linda Tyer's plan to appoint acting Chief Michael Wynn permanently to the post.
Supervisory Union President Matt Hill and Patrolman's Union President Andrew Couture released a letter Thursday saying the unions would rather see the appointment be made through the Civil Service process and open to other candidates within the department.
"While this department has been without a permanent chief for over eight years, we are both opposed to and disappointed in the manner in which she intends to make such an appointment," the letter reads. "Over the past 25 plus years, the position of police chief in this city has been used as a political football. Many still remember the nightmare before Gerald Lee was finally appointed chief in 1992. In late 2007, when then chief Anthony Riello left our department, Michael Wynn was appointed acting chief, the game resumed again and continues to this day."
Both the city's police and fire chiefs are in the "acting" capacity and had been appointed as such under former Mayor James Ruberto. The Police Union says the chief exam, which costs those who take it $250, was offered and four had intended to take it.
The union, however, says it was "clear" that Ruberto, who was a vocal advocate against the use of the Civil Service didn't have the intention to hire through the system. Wynn and one other candidate were the only two to take the exam and Wynn was appointed in the acting capacity in 2007.
"Both Mayor Ruberto and subsequently Mayor [Daniel] Bianchi openly expressed their disdain for Civil Service and their desire to hire outside the Civil Service process," the letter reads.
In Bianchi's case, despite a charter change calling for an immediate appointment, he formed a task force to look outside of the Civil Service system. The group examined the issues and was ultimately split in whether the city should continue to use it. After the report, Bianchi continued to push to eliminate Civil Service as a way to select a chief.
The three union representatives on that committee — two police unions and the fire union — opposed using another system. The final report from that group, issued in May 2014, called on the mayor to "promptly" appoint permanent chiefs through whichever system — the Civil Service or another objective one — was suitable.
The reasons behind opposition to the system, according to the study group, is the inefficiency from the state in providing candidate lists in a timely matter, delayed testing, and other bureaucratic nuisances. However, the system does outline specific ways a chief can be hired or fired, protecting the chief from being at the whim of an elected official. Currently, both chiefs are appointed in an acting capacity and can be removed by the mayor at any point, for any reason.
The unions' support for Civil Service is because they believe it takes politics out of the positions.
"The purpose of Civil Service is not to tie a mayor's hands in his or her decision-making, but instead to prevent the abuse of position and influence which has been long documented as occurring during periods without it. The department needs the stability of a permanent chief, free from political interference, to focus on the business of public safety and to develop long-term goals for the agency," the unions wrote.
"A politically-appointed chief subject to the whims of a mayor is both disruptive and damaging to the morale of the many fine officers who serve the people of this city."
The unions say the mayor is seeking a special designation with the system, calling it an "end-run around" the process. The unions say there are several candidates within the department interested in taking the exam and going for the position. However, the unions say it isn't about the who, but rather the way the chief is chosen.
"This has always been about the process and never about who is or could be chief. Anything other than that desired process is absolutely unacceptable," the letter reads.
The city opted out of the Civil Service system for the chiefs for 13 years through a special act in 1992
Tags: civil service, Pittsfield Police, public unions,
