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RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

For the past couple weeks, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard’s ethics proposal has been circulating around city hall. It hasn’t been formally introduced as the Mayor has been soliciting input from both Democrats and Republicans on the Council. I managed to get a copy of a summary sheet and here are some of the highlights.

Unless as provided by law, city and county employees would be banned from serving on the boards that govern them. It also prohibits City-County Councilors from working for the same city/county agency that they govern, except as provided by law. Indiana law allows police and firefighters to serve on the same boards that govern them.

Lobbyists would have to register annually with the city, currently there is no requirement. The ethics guidelines would not only apply to city and county employees, but also individuals who do business with the city.

Individuals would be banned from serving on a board that they would have a relationship or interest in.

Gifts are allowed under the new ethics plan, but there are some changes from the current rules. For example, currently there is $250 annual limit on gifts, that would be lowered to $100. Honoraria for speeches would no longer be allowed.

Anyone who has heard me comment knows I have never been a fan of government employees serving on the bodies that govern them. Too much potential is there for undue influence to be put either on the employee, or the employee to put pressure on the supervisor. However until the state law is changed, as recommended by the Kernan-Shepard Reform Commission, these are the rules we have to work with.

Finally, some of you have asked why I haven’t commented on the appointment City-County Councilor Lincoln Plowman to Assistant Commander for Investigations. I haven’t commented because frankly I don’t see what the issue is. If the appointment was a “reward” for his vote to turn IMPD over from the Mayor to the Sheriff, then what about the other 20 City-County Councilor’s (Republicans and Democrats) who voted for the transfer?  No one has shown me evidence that he was unqualified for the job, although he has nearly 20 years of law enforcement and military experience. And any comparisons to Monroe Gray and his antics while Council President, are like comparing Napoleon Bonaparte to Napoleon Dynamite. As long as the law allows for city employees to serve on the same boards which govern them – this is what we get.  And yes, Plowman is a friend.  I freely acknowledge that so you don’t have to bring it up and can attempt to argue the facts for a change.

Posted: 03|2|08 at 8:45 am by Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
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  • officer

    On a side note, an IMPD officer was forced to shoot and kill someone last night. Sounds like the officers did the right thing and survived.

    Just a reminder.

  • Indy Bruiser

    20 years on the Sheriff’s department doesn’t automatically make you qualified to run any law enforcement division. Now if he has extensive investigative experience, then you have an argument for his promotion.

    There’s nothing wrong for sticking up for a friend, but don’t throw your hands up in the air when we Democrats laugh at your hypocrisy. Plowman’s promotion was purely political and you know it. And it is very similar to Gray’s ascension in IFD. We’ll see if he performs better than Gray.

  • Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

    IB,

    I don’t throw my hands in any direction. I actually laugh now that everyone seems to have found Jesus. It’s like I said on consolidation, once the party in power changed, everyone put down their protest signs, walked across the street, and picked up the other side’s signs. And Lincoln does have extensive investigative experience by the way.

  • Really

    Abbie Dull, Huh? You stated that “No one has shown me evidence that he was unqualified for the job”. But is he qualified? His newly created position will keep next to the Ballard to do his bidding. Additionally, you stated “although he has nearly 20 years of law enforcement and military experience”. Well my friend, this is exactly the type of thinking that is destroying this department. He has 20 years of service, therefore he or she is a qualified. FLAT OUT WRONG.

  • Lamont

    Abdul, I’m going to have to disagree with you on this. I do see your point; however, if it’s wrong it’s wrong. If my son hits another kid in a kid fight…I won’t accept his response of “he hit me first”. Basically, wrong is wrong. If it’s wrong, then you just don’t do it. There are no good excuses or explanations as to why you did wrong…and you can’t point fingers at anyone else who is doing wrong to justify your wrongs. Now…I’m done preaching my friend. :)

  • Watcher on the Wall

    Lincoln is very qualified, bright and charismatic. Having been a major with MCSD prior to the Anderson train wreck administration showed he has the ability to lead. The comparison between Gray and Plowman is a pathetic comparison that someone like Wilson Allen would blather forth. Oh I forgot he DEFENDED Gray….

  • flipper

    You Bartie’s should remember 10 letters.
    Monroe Gray. Now, take Wilson and GO AWAY!

  • Wilson46201

    Monroe Gray is now comfortably retired from IFD and still an elected City/County Councilor, having been re-elected again just last November.

  • Watcher on the Wall

    And this means he is still FAR overpaid. The left in Marion County have no clue about ethics. Oh! that’s right YOU support Andre’. You also rode the hem of Julia knowing the wrong doing that she was doing along with her cronies.

  • Truth Teller

    Not only does Lincoln have 10 years of military experience including MP and intel on top of his 20 years in law enforcement, but he also has FBI training, he went to detective school and also has state training. He had merit rank postitions under Anderson and Cottey. Sweet Pea can’t even put two sentences together.

  • Front row spectator

    “bright & charismatic”?!

  • anonymous

    People just aren’t happy unless they have something to complain about. Lincoln has been a police officer for 20 years. Like all of us, he has made some mistakes but learned from them. Experience in investigations? How many people in charge of their respective unit went into investigations with any experience? We never stop learning so give the man an opportunity to show he is worthy of his appointment.

  • http://aaronsullivan.org Aaron Sullivan

    Barring anyone from seeking elected office based upon his or her lawful profession is wrong. This practice would not only deprive the city/county employee of their rights and since of duty, it would deprive the citizen/taxpayer of their rights and since of duty.

    City/County employees pay taxes, serve on jury duty, vote in elections and does their best to conform to society’s order. How can they be stripped of any single part of being a complete citizen? I have personally made a commitment to be a Police Officer and be involved in politics to advance my community. I not only believe it is my right, I believe it is my duty. In addition to the many skills and experiences a Police Officer brings to the decision making process, a particular Officer may have other skills and experiences outside of police work that make him or her the most qualified for the position.

    The citizen also has a duty and a right to vote for a candidate based on the citizen’s evaluation of that candidate’s merit for the position. The citizen should surely not be deprived of the best candidate to serve them because of that candidate’s lawful employment.

    Every citizen and every elected official has a right and duty to be “watchdogs” against any kind of corruption. We should make every effort to seek out and expose to voters all elected officials that would vote or work on behalf of their own personal agenda or gain. This is the hard work and the noble goal. Let us not recklessly bar good people from services to their community.

  • Jon G

    Aaron,
    In theory I totally agree with you. I think the problem is an integrity issue. The Ike Randolgh issue at last years CCC meeting where he tried to abstain from voting (I can’t remember if it was a INPD or IFD issue) because of a conflict of interest is a case of dong the right thing. Unfortunately, not everyone could be counted on to do the right thing (someone like Monroe Gray for example). Maybe there could be provision that disallows someone from voting when there is a direct conflict of interest. Then anyone from any profession wouldn’t be barred from serving in political office.

  • Jon G

    Wilson
    -
    You should stop using Monroe Gray as benchmark for fine Democrats, well…..maybe he is the standard……huh! Monroe Gray getting elected just proves what is wrong with the system and how bad it has gotten…..when a guy like that can hood wink the voters…….I don’t know, I just loose faith. But then we elected Mayor Ballard, maybe there is hope after all.
    -
    Like I said before, if Ballard makes an appointment and it isn’t working for whatever reason, the true test will be what he does about it.
    -
    REMEMBER NOVEMBER

  • Taxpayer 834512

    1)Full-time Councilmen: more time for issues, mischief, and expensive
    2)Part-time Councilmen not working for the city: less time for issues and mischief, and cheaper
    3)Part-time Councilmen working for the city: less time for issues, potential for conflict of interest, but cheaper.
    I vote for option 2 and believe Kernan-Shepard does as well. Given the trade-offs I perceive, I’m not sold on the virtues of a “professional political class” person behind every desk.

  • Bart Flies

    Abdul-

    What would you have said if Democrat Vernon Brown had voted to take the fire department away from a Republican and give it to a Democrat and then got a promotion within weeks?

    Please, please, please don’t tell me that you would not have written about it.