Giving Mayor Frank Jackson the authority to appoint Cleveland’s fire chief and command staff is an attempt to stop the years of payroll abuse in the city’s fire department.

Audits of the department have revealed numerous ploys, including firefighters illegally paying colleagues to work their shifts while still collecting their salaries and benefits. According to the audits, more than half of the department’s 800 firefighters did not fully repay the other firefighters for shift trades within a year as required by their union contract.

Five of the firefighters could face criminal charges.

If Cleveland City Council, and ultimately the city’s voters approve giving Jackson the appointing authority, the mayor could make his selections from inside or outside the city’s fire department. Right now, Right now, the city’s Civil Service Commission fills the positions.
The city’s police chief and police commanders already are appointed by the mayor.