Oregon Councilman Dennis Walendzak said he couldn't support hiring former Toledo police Chief Mike Navarre because he doesn't live in the city limits, which is something the Oregon Police Department needs for its top law enforcement executive.
"It shows that you're engaged and you truly do care for community," Mr. Walendzak said at last Monday's meeting before he voted against hiring Mr. Navarre, who lives in West Toledo but said he is considering a move to Oregon. "It's not anything about the lack of respect for Chief Navarre. Heck, he's got an impeccable record."
But Councilman Jerry Peach, who voted in favor of hiring Mr. Navarre, argued what really mattered was who was the best person for the job, not where he or she lived.
"That's what is important to me," Mr. Peach said.
After a heated meeting where 10 residents spoke out against naming Mr. Navarre the Oregon chief, the council narrowly voted 4 to 3 to hire the ex-Toledo chief, who will start Jan. 1 and will get paid $82,889. His salary will be the same as assistant chief and interim leader Paul Magdich.
Council members Terry Reeves, Sandy Bihn, and Mr. Walendzak voted against hiring Mr. Navarre while Council President Michael Sheehy, James Seaman, Kathleen Pollauf, and Mr. Peach voted yes.
The Oregon post became vacant in January after its former chief Richard Stager retired.
Mr. Navarre, the Toledo chief for 13 years, will return to work after a brief retirement. He left the Toledo force Oct. 21 because he had reached the maximum number of years police officers are allowed to remain in Ohio's Deferred Retirement Option Plan.
He is eligible to receive a lump-sum payment of $668,957 and a pension to start at $65,453 a year, as well as a severance check for $47,421. As Toledo police chief, Mr. Navarre was paid $102,132 a year.
The fact that Mr. Navarre receives a pension was contentious for several residents who accused him of "double-dipping." Others pushed for Mayor Michael Seferian to promote internally and appoint Mr. Magdich.
"What's wrong with our own people?" Connie Sue Koch, 43, a lifetime Oregon resident, asked during the meeting. "Why are we not looking at our own people to fill a job in our community ... where they've worked for years, where their heart has been.
"Paul Magdich knows the community. He's been here."
But Mayor Seferian defended his recommendation of Mr. Navarre, saying he believed hiring Mr. Navarre will be a turning point for the Oregon police department.
"Every time I make a tough decision … I look in the mirror and say do I really like the person looking back at me?" the mayor said. "I looked in the mirror and said very confidently, 'I am comfortable at making this decision. I am going to try to appoint Mike Navarre to our police department.' I have a lot of confidence -- I have all the confidence in the world -- in Paul Magdich, that those two will work together in harmony to bring our police department the best it's ever been."
First Published November 23, 2011, 5:15 a.m.
