Issue of the week: Professionalism

Under the watchful eye of the Maplewood Police Civil Service Commission, candidates for Police Sergeant must meet a stringent set of qualifications before they are allowed to undergo the examination process for appointment.

Potential candidates must be POST (Police Officer Standards and Training) certified, have several years experience as a police officer, and hold a minimum of an associate degree in a closely related field plus 45 quarter credits. Only if they meet those qualifications are they invited to participate in examinations. The examination process includes a written examination; a promotability assessment by department sergeants and lieutenants; and an oral interview in front of a board that includes officers from other police departments. This series of examinations produces a ranking which insures the position of Police Sergeant is only offered to the most qualified candidate available.

In contrast, the current council majority has created a situation in which that police sergeant's ultimate superior, the city manager, the person in charge of public safety for Maplewood's 35,000 residents, is not required to have any qualifications or any experience at all. Nor is that individual required to undergo any examination, review, or interview process whatsoever. Nor is that individual selected from a pool of candidates generated by a professional search process.

The process created by the current council majority could not be more simple. It has one step. The city manager is appointed by a majority vote.

There is only one way that process can be changed so that Maplewood's City Manager is at least as qualified as a newly appointed Police Sergeant. Voters must change the council majority and demand of the new council a process that will lead to a professional city manager.


Complete printable newsletter - Issue 1 [pdf]