African American Pastors Speak Out On Commissioners Selection Process |
| Pastor Elliott Cohen, Pastor Willie Scott and Bishop Lawrence L. Kirby, were among a dozen local pastors who vented their angry over the recent Police and Fire Commission decision to reopen a national search after only two local minority candidates was named finalist |
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| Rev. Fred Richmond, pastor of New Omega Church, calls for reforms to the Police and Fire Commission at a press press conference held at the Greater Mt. Eagle Baptist Church , Monday, Feb. 23, shortly before noon.
A
dozen local African American pastors from various denominations, vented
their frustrations over the city Police and Fire Commission’s plan to reopen a national search after two minorities were left as finalists.
Deputy
Chief Art Howell and Lt. Carlos Lopez became the only two remaining
finalists when Ronald Teachman, former police chief of New Bedord,
Mass., pulled out of the race.
The Racine Police and Fire Commission announced that they were going back to review previous applicants after Teachman withdrew. Rev.
Melvin Hargrove, one of three minority members, was the first of the
five member commission to publicly announced that he disapproved of the
group’s decision. “I just think that it was wrong for us to open it back
up again”, he stated.
Hargrove,
who also pastor of an inner-city church, was in attendance with the
other pastors, but did not make any comments during the press
conference.
In
a prepared statement, Rev. Keith Evans, pastor of Mount Eagle, said
that they hope to work with the mayor’s office to avert future problems.
They called for expansion and continued diversify in the commission. “Confidence in the process and confidence in the commission have been weakened,” he said.
He
also indicated that the group thanked Mayor John Dickert, but said
additional changes still need to be made in the commission and within
the police department regarding recruitment of minorities. A dozen
pastors stood and applauded when Evans said that some members have been
on the commission for “too long.”
They
singled out Commission Vice President Van Wanggaard, a local state
senator, questioning his serving on a commission with authority over
police officers and firefighters who may have signed the ongoing
statewide recall petitions against him. “That conflict of interest is
now magnified,” Evans said.
The daily paper said that Wanggaard dismissed the claims as “ridiculous.”
The
news paper quoted him as saying, “Just because I know how the
department operates or have specific knowledge on how individuals
conducted their lives on the department does not preclude me from being a
member of the PFC,” he said.
The commission
Members
of the commission are President Charles Johnson; Vice President Van
Wanggaard, There are three minority members on the commission, Marie
Black, Rev. Melvin Hargrove and Keith Rogers. The commission is an
independent body that has sole jurisdiction over hirings, promotions and
discipline of police officers and firefighters, including the
appointment of a chief.
By
state statute, a police and fire commission is an independent body. It
must have five members, who serve five-year terms, that are annually
appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council. The city
commissioners serve on a voluntary basis and are not paid. Black, who is serving her second term, is the only commissioner coming up for reappointment in May.
State
statutes do allow for the removal of commissioners. They may be removed
for “cause,” statutorily defined as “inefficiency, neglect of duty,
official misconduct or malfeasance in office” After a hearing by the
council, three-fourths of the council must vote for the removal — that would be 12 of the 15 city aldermen in Racine.
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