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The city manager calls for suspensions and evaluations to find whether they can keep their positions.
By AMY WIMMER
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 4, 2001
ST. PETE BEACH -- City Manager Carl Schwing has proposed suspending two police captains for two days without pay, saying they "have undermined the productivity of the department and have caused an unnecessary morale problem."
Schwing also has suggested writing a "letter of caution and instruction" to police Chief Ray Kaminskas. In a memo informing Kaminskas of the proposed discipline, Schwing said the chief failed to keep himself informed about conditions in the department, making him "negligent" in his duty to the city.
Schwing spent more than a month investigating accusations outlined in a letter from an anonymous employee.
The investigation, which reportedly took more than 50 hours of Schwing's time, revealed that competition between Capt. Joe Cornish and Capt. Todd Kirchgraber have caused a morale breakdown in the Police Department.
Schwing's report also suggested that the problems between the two captains have divided the rest of the department, because many of the employees he interviewed during his investigation complained more about one captain than the other.
"There apparently is quite a history here between the two individuals, but the infighting must stop," Schwing wrote. "There are allegations that Capt. Cornish purposely attempted to make the chief look bad as well as allegations that Capt. Kirchgraber is doing everything to make Capt. Cornish look bad."
In addition to the suspensions, Schwing also recommended placing both captains on a six-month probation and sending them to remedial supervision training. Following the probation, Schwing wrote, the captains will be evaluated to determine whether they will remain in their positions.
Among the problems cited in the report were a lack of leadership, the captains' attempts to undermine each other and issue conflicting commands, and unfair favoritism on internal affairs investigations.
As for the chief, Schwing wrote that Kaminskas should have a better handle on problems in the department. After Schwing received the letter of complaint, Kaminskas and the two captains responded in a letter posted in the Police Department -- a letter that officers felt "whitewashed" the situation, according to Schwing.
"While the chief is well-liked, there is a difference of opinion on whether he is responsible for the problems," Schwing wrote in his report. "Employees point more toward the captains. However, as chief of police, Mr. Kaminskas is responsible for the entire department -- and therefore the problems."
Kaminskas offered little comment Tuesday about the investigation. "I work for the city manager," Kaminskas said. "It's his baby."
The disciplines are not yet official. Schwing proposed them in letters to all three managers on Mondayand gave each an opportunity to respond by Thursday.