Gettysburg Borough knows it needs to hire a police chief but how it hires one is currently being ironed out.
During their monthly workshop on Monday, the borough council discussed the process and qualifications the next candidate should bring to the job.
Civil Service Process
Human Resources Coordinator Marie Figueroa-Ocasio told the council that the current ordinance dictating the rules for hiring a chief states the council must follow the civil service process, which requires review by the civil service commission and a non-competitive exam. Council President Matthew Moon said the civil service process is typically used to ensure that candidates are being hired on merit, not for political favor.
Attorney Jonathan Whalen of Campbell Durrant PC, the borough’s special counsel for labor matters, questioned whether the civil service process is a good idea for a police chief. Whalen said the chief is more of an administrator than a police officer, and the civil service process limits the council’s ability to fire the chief if they disagree with the way they are leading the department. Whalen said few municipalities hire chiefs through the civil service process and recommended Gettysburg change its ordinance to give council more control. Under the current ordinance, council can only fire the chief for conduct unbecoming of an officer, illegal activity, and being notoriously disgraceful. Those guidelines are vague, Whalen said, and could be challenged in court.
Solicitor Harry Eastman said the requirement was put in place in 1986, likely to show favoritism towards former Police Chief Fred Gantz.
“It smacks of me that this is very specifically set forth with regards to a particular hire,” Eastman said.
Education
Council also discussed whether the chief should have a bachelor’s degree. The ordinance does not require one, Figueroa-Ocasio said, but the Civil Service process does. If the council drops the Civil Service process, it will also drop the requirement for the chief unless it changes the ordinance.
Whalen suggested the requirement remain, since a successful chief requires analytical ability, budget, and personnel management skills.
“It’s probably nine times out of ten a position that requires a Bachelor’s Degree,” Whalen said.
Councilwoman Alisha Sanders suggested the ordinance be tweaked to require more interaction with the borough council. Pennsylvania Borough Code dictates that the chief reports to the mayor. Whalen clarified that the council directs the chief’s duties, but the mayor is responsible for dictating how the chief carries out those duties.
“I know I personally would like to hear more from the chief, whoever is hired, about what they need,” said Sanders.
The council will continue discussing possible ordinance revisions at future meetings. Until then, Sgt. Christopher Evans is the officer-in-charge of the department.
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.