Acting sooner would require a special election, he said. This is a major project that would take some time.'' At the least, the proposed amendment should be expanded to include assistant chiefs, who comprise the command staffs of the police and fire divisions, said Council Member John Cranley , the law committee's chairman. But we may end up with more division and less action. Mr. Cranley said Mr. Tarbell's plan to appoint Water Works Director Dave Rager as Mr. Shirey's replacement has many pitfalls. Mr. Rager, a former safety director, has been criticized by some black employees who claimed he disregarded their allegations of racism.
Timing is everything.