ST. LOUIS (kakilleen@cbs.com) -- St. Louis police Chief Dan Isom is calling for a change in the chain of command of the St. Louis Police Board, following a state audit that blasted the department for corruption and waste.
The soft-spoken chief known for his strategic planning turned all eyes to the far end of a long oak table where the board meets, focussing attention on a little-known member of the panel who usually sits silent during public meetings --- the police board secretary.
In the past eight years, there have been five different board secretaries, each vested with sweeping financial responsibilities , Isom noted. He blamed the high turnover rate for many of the problems in the state audit.
"The board secretary is responsible for budget and finance, purchasing, legal and supply, " Isom said. "A large portion of the audit had to do with financial matters."
The Chief wants to strip away several of the financial duties from the board secretary and put them under the control of a more permanent civilian employee, who would report to the Chief.
"What I'm suggesting to the board in terms of consistency and also in terms of experience and background is that we hire a civilian manager of these functions, somebody who has maybe a city manager background, a chief financial officer background," Isom said.
"Then you have a position running these difficult entities who has the background and education, who is going to be there for a long period of time."
Isom's proposal was met with cautious enthusiasm by the board. No vote was taken, but Board President Todd Epsten said the proposal will be taken up again, after board members have time to digest it.
Meanwhile, the raging debate over local verses state control caused board members to stray from the agenda and weigh in on the issue.
Board Member Vincent Bommarito argued that the current system of state-appointed boards is fine. "There's nothing wrong with this structure,"Bommarito said. "You get the pick of the crop of business people and professionals that have experience. And we let the chief and officers and colonels concentrate on getting the bad guys."
Board member Mayor Slay has argued for local control. After the meeting, he told KMOX he wants the department to answer to his office. "If you had a direct line of accountability from the chief to the mayor, then in that case you have a department that is accountable. You have a mayor that's accountable."
What if there's a corrupt mayor? Slay was asked.
"If there's a corrupt mayor, then that corrupt mayor is dealt with. There's accountability . That mayor can be voted out of office or prosecuted." Slay said.
Board President Todd Epsten took a middle ground, saying it's not the board's role to advocate a change. "But I am advocating that this system be examined by the lawmakers, by the citizens , by all the stakeholders and ask ourselves what is the best way for oversight of this department to make sure we're all held accountable."
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