The council voted 5-4 to oust Smith and replace him with deputymanager Roger Stancil.
Also Monday, the council voted by the same margin to hire aGeorgia municipal judge and a Cincinnati lawyer to investigatepersonnel practices in the Police Department and city manager'soffice.
The council appointed Ronald Hunter to lead the investigationinto allegations that Police Chief Ron Hansen discriminated againstthree black officers who had complained about racism in thedepartment.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peopleaccuses the department of having a racially hostile workenvironment, claiming there's discrimination and reprisals for those whoblow the whistle. The NAACP told the council the police department firedone officer and punished others for speaking out aboutdiscrimination.
At a meeting in January, the council asked for the personnel files ofthree officers who allege racism in the police department.About a hundred police officers attended the meeting, wherecouncil members listened to charges and counter-charges.
City Manager John Smith defends the actions taken against the three blackofficers. The police department says the charges of racism are unfounded. Police Chief Ron Hansen said he thinks members of the NAACP are out forhis job.
The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has also launched aprobe into this matter.
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