Interim is now chief if nothing changes

A Kenneth City council member promotes the acting police chief with only weeks left before voters decide whether to abolish the department.

By ANNE LINDBERG

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 1, 2000

KENNETH CITY -- Although facing possible demise, the Kenneth City Police Department has a permanent chief.

James Ernst, who has been acting chief since September, made the jump to permanent chief in mid-February courtesy of council member Bill Smith. Smith, who oversees the department, informed council members of his decision last week by giving them a copy of a Feb. 15 memo to Ernst.

"Chief, as you and I discussed today, I am herewith changing your status with the Kenneth City Police Department from acting chief of police to permanent chief of police, effective Monday, Feb. 14, 2000," Smith wrote. This occurred despite the uncertain future of the department. Later this month, voters will decide whether to keep the Police Department or opt to contract with the Sheriff's Office.

Ernst, 52, spent 27 years with the Trumbull (Conn.) Police Department, working his way up through the ranks until he became assistant to the chief. He held that position from 1986 until he retired from the department in 1996.

The February appointment garnered praise, although the secrecy of the move drew criticism.

"That's fantastic. He'll do a good job," said Bill LauBach, executive director of the Pinellas County Police Benevolent Association. "It's a wonderful appointment."

Former Kenneth City Mayor Harold Paxton was pleased with the choice but not with the method of selection.

"I think that Jim Ernst is a good chief of police, but I think that the way it was done without bringing it before council was wrong," Paxton said. "It just needs to be kept out in the open."

This is an example, said Paxton, of why the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office should be brought in to run the town's public safety. Such a move, he said, would avoid this sort of political maneuvering.

Smith said Monday he had consulted with Town Attorney Paul Marino, who ruled that he could make the change without the council's approval because it was merely a status change, not a new hire. He said he did not give Ernst a contract.

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