Rumors, innuendos and vague accusations at June 25 city council meeting stirred up debate over who is–and isn’t–entitled to supervise Clarkston’s transitioning police department.
Resident Tom Stone, who has frequently voiced concern over violation of the city charter, broached the subject when he asked council how it decides which laws to enforce’and which not.
‘I’m under the impression Mr. Rausch has been in numerous conversations, riding with and supervising our police staff,? said Stone, referring to councilman and police liaison Bill Rausch, ‘which, according to the charter, is illegal.?
Although Mayor Sharron Catallo pointed out that anyone can partake in a police ride along, provided it is convenient for the officer, the issue of supervising and directing the officers has come up at council meetings repeatedly since Rausch was elected as a write-in last November.
‘I wasn’t under the impression he’s supervising,? said Catallo. ‘I think he’s doing some background work and finding out how things operate, or maybe having some discussion with the newer officers about what we want.?
Early this year, Rausch, who had a planned absence from the June 25 meeting, asked council to grant him supervisory authority over the police chief, a request denied when municipal Attorney Tom Ryan pointed to the city charter, which states that such duties belong to the city manager, not a member of the council.
In February, Rausch spearheaded an effort to remove then-Chief Ernest Combs from the department in a move he said was ‘in the best interest of the city.?
Combs was fired March 5, but Rausch, the city’s police liaison, remains involved with the department.
‘It’s the chief’s responsibility to run the department,? said Councilman Cory Johnston at the June 25 meeting. ‘If the chief knows of anybody, especially a council person, that might be doing something inappropriate, I think it’s his obligation to inform the city manager.?
Johnston acknowledged he’d heard several rumors regarding Rausch interfering with the police department, but said the city can’t make decisions or take action based on rumors and hearsay, and must instead follow a prescribed chain of command.
‘The chief is responsible for his department and his employees,? said Johnston. ‘Then the city manager and the city council. If any chief doesn’t follow that chain then it’s not the chief we want.?
Acting Chief Jim Thompson, the city’s sole fulltime officer, has expressed interest in becoming the city’s permanent chief, as has current officer Bob Hagberg, who is one of seven part-time police personnel.
‘We can’t go on rumor,? said Attorney Tom Ryan. ‘If some council person is interfering or meddling with the police department, (that information) goes to the chief first. If the chief doesn’t have the guts to stand up and say yes or no’and that’s a problem’then you go to the city manager. But the chief should know his department best and no council person should be interfering with the police department, plain and simple.?
Rausch, who had a planned absence from the meeting, however, denied any effort to supervise or direct the police department.
‘Absolutely not,? said Rausch. ?(City Manger Art Pappas) is the boss. That was made perfectly clear and I have no problem with that. But I am the liaison, I’m the one that has to find out all the stuff to report and I will continue to do that. I may ask (the police) to do something, but that’s not a directive.?
‘I can ask someone to do something I can’t tell them to do something but I can ask them to do it. That doesn’t make me the boss, it just makes me a council person asking someone to look at something and find out what’s going on.?
Rausch said he and the Police Chief Selection Committee were working hard to find the right chief for the city.
He also talked about several ‘sensitive issues? regarding the police department and the city attorney, but declined to give specifics.
‘If you have information that could be harmful to the city,? he said, ‘you try to deal with it quietly and as expeditiously as you can.?
People are talking don’t know all the facts. No, I don’t tell them what to do in their police work and anything I do tell them I usually discuss with art before I say anything or I say it and then discuss it, but there’s a coup sensitive issues and I dealt with them that way art knows, he’s contacted the attorney. I’ve spent 40 years supervising and I understand supervising, and I understand the chain of command.