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Hundreds back fired B.G. chief

City manager focus of ire over McDaniel's dismissal

By Marissa Harshman, Columbian Health Reporter
Published: December 22, 2009, 12:00am
2 Photos
Council member Lisa Walters gets emotional during Monday's packed meeting.
Council member Lisa Walters gets emotional during Monday's packed meeting. She called for an audit of the city manager. Photo Gallery

BATTLE GROUND — About 200 people crammed into the Battle Ground City Council chambers Monday evening to voice their dissatisfaction in City Manager Dennis Osborn and his decision to fire police Chief James McDaniel.

McDaniel supporters filled the seats of the council chambers, lined the walls, stood in the hallway and occupied extra seats in an overflow room in City Hall. Members of the Battle Ground Police Officers Association donned black T-shirts with “Save our police chief” plastered on the back and held posters calling for Osborn’s termination and McDaniel’s reinstatement. Battle Ground residents waited through more than an hour of public testimony for their turn to plead for the city council to take action. And city council members voiced their concern, anger and disappointment regarding McDaniel’s dismissal.

“I’m looking at what happened in Battle Ground as the worst crisis this city has ever had,” Councilman Paul Zandamela said. “The worst crisis.”

The issue prompted Councilwoman Lisa Walters to call on her fellow council members to start an audit of Osborn and to ensure that city employees who speak out are not subject to retaliation from Osborn.

Osborn fired McDaniel Thursday. When asked Thursday if any specific action by McDaniel led to his termination, Osborn said, “I just want to take the department in a different direction.” The city manager has the authority to hire and fire department heads, including the police chief.

In a written statement, Osborn said he is ready to implement new efficiencies within the department, which he believes will benefit the Battle Ground community. The police department consumes 45 percent of the city’s general fund budget, he said.

McDaniel, 55, had led the police department for four years.

“I have never worked with a person with more integrity or forward-thinking than Chief McDaniel,” said Monte Elford, a Battle Ground police officer for more than 30 years. “Every officer would, without question, put their lives on the line with Chief McDaniel for the citizens of this city.”

Osborn notified the police department of his decision Thursday afternoon. Hours later, the police officers union announced its members had unanimously backed a vote of no confidence in Osborn.

The news of McDaniel’s termination caught many officers, and council members, by surprise. Zandamela said he was notified by Osborn in a “five-second phone call.”

“He said, ‘I fired the chief,’ and then hung up,” Zandamela said. “That’s all I knew.”

Since the announcement, police officers and community members have denounced the firing and the city manager. Protesters have crowded busy intersections and handed out fliers throughout the weekend. Community members and law enforcement came out in full force Monday evening.

Representatives from various police agencies spoke at the meeting, including the Battle Ground Police Officers Association, the Vancouver Police Officers Guild, Portland Police Association, Washington Fraternal Order of Police, Fraternal Order of Police Lower Columbia Lodge and the Kalama Police Department.

“We believe a terrible injustice has been created against the Battle Ground Police Department,” said Kim Armstrong, president of the Battle Ground police association. “This injustice cannot be tolerated.”

Armstrong called Osborn’s decision rash and asked the council to demand an explanation. Officer Tim Wilson reminded the council that they work for the residents of Battle Ground, and said the council has an obligation to evaluate the termination.

“It is your job to make sure (Osborn) stays on task and makes good decisions,” Wilson said. “And everyone knows the firing of Chief McDaniel was a bad decision.”

Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.

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Columbian Health Reporter