Officers Involved In Lawsuit Against The City Lose In Court

Three internal candidates for Tulsa's police chief job lost in court on Friday.<br/><br/>A district judge ruled Mayor Kathy Taylor had the authority to hire a police chief from outside the department.<br/><br/>Tulsa's

Friday, September 28th 2007, 8:37 pm

By: News On 6

Three internal candidates for Tulsa's police chief job lost in court on Friday.

A district judge ruled Mayor Kathy Taylor had the authority to hire a police chief from outside the department.

Tulsa's Fraternal Order of Police said the charter prohibits the mayor from looking for a police chief outside the existing force, if it has three qualified candidates. In March, the FOP filed a grievance on behalf of the three candidates, Deputy Chief Bill Wells and Majors Paul Williams and Rob Turner.

There is still no decision, though, on whether the chief's position can be at-will or civil service. In August, the mayor hired current chief Ron Palmer from outside the department as an at-will employee.

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