The Columbus City Council Tuesday tabled a request from Columbus Police Department Chief Selvain McQueen to approve his new organizational chart. The motion to table the item was made by Vice Mayor and Ward Six Councilman Bill Gavin, after a brief discussion session with McQueen.
McQueen said the new chart would go into effect “immediately” if approved. The restructuring of the police department calls for the filling of at least two positions: A second assistant chief and a commander of criminal investigation.
“We accepted the resignation of an officer tonight. Are you sure you can fill these positions?” Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem asked.
McQueen said he could fill the positions and would not necessarily look outside his department.
“We can fill these positions from within the department, if we have the qualified people,” he said. “But we are going to get the best personnel we can find, whether it be from in house or outside.”
McQueen was questioned by Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box about the timeline for a promotions policy.
“When are you going to come forward with a promotions policy?” Box asked. “We have plenty of people that have been waiting a long time to be promoted.”
The internal restructuring coincides with McQueen’s lateral transfer policy which was approved by the Civil Service Commission in February. The hiring policy will allow outside hires to enter the CPD at whatever rank the new hire currently holds. Box, Gavin and Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens opposed the measure, when it came before the council in February.
McQueen stood his ground Tuesday night when challenged by Box.
“We are laying the groundwork right now,” McQueen said. “It’s been said for years that Columbus has too much rank, so we have been trimming the fat. We have four 12-hour shifts, so we don’t need as many supervisors. There are some things that need to be fixed. I’m looking at standardized pay across the board. There are some things that we’ve got to fix. I know you hear some people complaining about the policies. To say morale is low — well, it probably is in some circles. But there are a lot of people happy with these changes. I wish some of these people would give you a call.”
After the motion was tabled, McQueen appeared before the council for his second policy agenda item.
“Agent Eric Lewis is a four-year veteran of the (Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics) and a former officer with our department and he wants to come back to Columbus,” McQueen said. “He does good work.”
As the item on the policy agenda was listed as “lateral transfer,” Mayor Robert Smith asked what rank would Lewis be, if he was hired?
“He hasn’t been here in a while so he will start out as a patrol officer, then join narcotics,” McQueen said.
Box said McQueen’s request had nothing to do with what was listed on the agenda.
“This has nothing to do with a lateral transfer,” Box said. “He has no rank.”
Smith asked Human Resource Director Pat Mitchell at what salary Lewis would be hired.
“(Lewis) has not been discussed with me,” Mitchell said. “This is the first I’ve heard about this. The starting salary is $30,000. But he hasn’t even filled out an application.”
The board considered Lewis’ hire in closed executive session. After the session, Box said Lewis probably would be hired “pending completion of paperwork,” but he was not hired Tuesday night.
Club Heidiho
In another matter, Club Heidiho owner Larry Golden questioned the council about his club’s occupancy, claiming Building Official Kenny Wiegel and Fire Marshal Todd Weathers had given his business an inaccurate maximum number of allowed occupants.
“My number has gone from 365 to 291 down to 233,” Golden said. “I don’t know why I can’t get an accurate number? I’ve done everything (Wiegel and Weathers) have asked me to do.”
Wiegel denied the occupancy level ever being 365.
“I don’t know where he got 365,” Wiegel said. “I’ve never given him a load number of 365. And 291? The words 291 have never come out of my mouth. We have a formula we use for every club; it’s the same formula for every club. The current occupancy for the Heidiho is 233 people.”
Golden contended the number was the original capacity number on a permit when the club was the Grey Goose, at 106 22nd St. S.
“This was the number on the wall — it was 365,” Hudson said. “(Weathers) came in and took it off the wall.”
Weathers said he had changed the license from Grey Goose to the Club Heidiho and stated the occupancy load of 233 was correct.
No action was taken by the council.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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