The Wilmington morning star., 1947-03-23
ISSUE IGNORED
BENSON IMPLIES
City Manager Says He Is
Disappointed In Final
Draft OF csc Bill

"The real issue was sidestepped
in the compromise Civil Service
Commission bill which was intro
duced in the General Assembly
Friday, City Manager ]. R. Ben
son said last night.
Benson expressed his disappoint-
ment over the measure in its final
form prepared by Senator Alton
A. Lennon and Representative
Robert M. Ker1non, mainly because
of it's restrictions upon the selec-
ton of a police chief from without
the department.
chief so appointed be limited to
In opposing the provision that the
1e months service Benson said.
81 don't see why any capable
man would come here to stralghten
things out and put himself In a hot
spot for such a short period OF
time then to be kicked out.
The city manager continued Il
do not mind any provislo-- requlr-
ing an experienced or capable
man, but I am convinced that 1t
will take a disinterested man to
clear up the difficulties now exist
ing. It would be extremely diff
cult if not impossible to find a mar
under the requirements in the bill"
In its final draft the bill intro
duced by Lennon stipulates In Sec
tion seven, relating to the appoint
ment of chiefs of the fire and police
department, that a chief of police
may be employed from without the
personnel of the department Under
the following provisions:
s.. shall have had at least two
wears training in the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and be
recommended for the said position
bv the Director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation; Or :.
who has had at least five years
experience as a police officer IN
a city of not less than 25,ooo IN
habitants, and who is recommend
ed by the Director of FBI. Pfov:d-
ed further. . . shall not hold said
position as Chief of Police for a
neriod of more than eighteen
months from the ratification OF
this act"
Benson expressed a belief that
the measure was too exactlng IN
placing a minimum of 25,OOO popu-
lation upon the city from which a
chief might be chosen. He SAID
that perhaps a capable man could
probably be found in a city of less
inhabitants or either IN the force
of some county police system.
The city manager pointed out
that should an acceptable man be
found in some other police depart
ment in a city of say 10000, the
city of Wilmington would certainly
not be able to meet the salary
which would be necessary to lure
one way from his own position
into this police department in Its
present state Of affairs.
He added that he did not object
to the stipulation that the ap-
pointee be recognized by some
police authority, but he indicated
that he did not like the provision
that the FBI must pass upon the
choice. He said he believed a
capable man could be found.
All in all, Benson, intimated that
the compromise bill with all its
provisions was merely n way
of tying the councils hands in the
selection of a new chief of police,
but the city manager would not
say that the bill would force the
governing body to make a choice
from the ranks.
In conclusion, he pointed out that
as long as a man were chosen
from the present personnel, he
would not have to meet any
qualifications Of either experience
or FBI training, nor would the FEj
recommendation be necessary.
Mayor w. Ronald Lane faid
last night that he had no comment
on the bill which has been present
ed, to the General Assembly.
"I have not had a chance to
study the bill forwarded to Lemon
and Kermon as neither of them
have been given me-" Lane said,
however I am expecting to get
n of them before long,"