A Franklin police policy change puts in place a special process to prevent relatives of police chiefs from receiving preferential treatment.
The Franklin City Council on Monday approved the policy change that gives top disciplinary authority to the deputy chief when the individual under investigation for a disciplinary matter is the police chief’s relative. The policy change was sparked by the recent hiring of Chief Kirby Cochran’s son, Kirby Cochran, Jr.
The merit commission amended its policy on Sept. 7, and the city council added the policy to the city code Monday.
Based on the city’s nepotism policy and state’s nepotism law, it was clear that Cochran could not supervise his son, but an official process had to be added to formalize who will supervise him. Previously, top disciplinary authority was given to the police chief, said William Barrett, the merit board’s attorney.
“Normally in a department not governed by statute, the next supervisor in line could supervise him … but Indiana’s merit statutes, including those we’ve adopted in our ordinances, vest in the chief the authority to suspend someone for five days or ask the merit board to do more,” Barrett said. “Nobody else has the authority but the chief.”
The direct supervisor for patrol officers at the Franklin Police Department is Capt. Scott Carter, who sends disciplinary issues up the chain of command to Deputy Chief Scott Summers and Cochran. Under this policy, the chain would end with Summers when the employee is a relative of the chief.
For relatives of the chief current and future, deputy chiefs will make a disciplinary recommendation to the merit board.
In other news
The city council also OK’d paying Indianapolis-based law firm, Barnes and Thornburg, $10,000 for consulting services related to developing the city’s American Rescue Plan Act spending plan.
The consulting fee is the first expenditure out of the $5.7 million the city will receive from the COVID-19 relief bill.
The council also had a brief public hearing on the proposed $25.6 million city budget. No one from the public commented on next year’s spending plan.
The budget is an overall increase of 1.47% from this year — an additional $667,000 — the bulk of which will go toward pay raises.
The 2022 budget includes $24.5 million in tax collections and $1.1 million in other funds, including $500,000 in the Rainy Day Fund. Tax-supported funds increased by 3.15%, while non-tax-supported funds decreased by 24.9%.
Salaries make up the bulk of new spending. Every city employee will earn an additional $1,500 annually, and some will get a larger increase. Employees with the city’s police and fire department could see an increase of $3,450, the highest pay bump among city employees.
The budget is set for adoption on Oct. 4.
