Changing how Cincinnati's police and fire chiefs are hired and fired could be just the beginning for city lawmakers. At Monday's law committee meeting, several council members said they would like to change the way the entire command staff for the two departments is selected.

        Instead of every position from chief down being promoted from the ranks based on test scores, they said the chiefs should be able to select their top assistants.

        And one councilman said the city should change the city's civil service system altogether, to allow various city departments the same flexibility.

        “I hope if we go down this road we just don't tinker around the edges,” Councilman Pat DeWine said.

        The road is one council started on April 9, two days after the police shooting death of Timothy Thomas, the 15th African-American to die in conflicts with police since 1995.

        Council members said they want the city manager to be able to hire the police and fire chiefs from anywhere in the country, not just from inside the city's own force. They said that would give elected officials more oversight of the de partment and create a more competitive process.

        Implementing the plan would require the city's charter be changed, which means voters would have the final say.

        “We've got about three months to worry about it,” said Councilman John Cranley, who chairs the law committee. “I'm definitely not opposed to it.”

        Because voters must decide the issue, Mr. Cranley said he will keep it in committee until July. If council approves a plan then, it will be put on the November ballot. Acting sooner would require a special election, he said.

        Deputy City Solicitor Bob Johnstone said the city could invoke its home-rule privilege to change the entire civil service system, but he

        urged caution. The city's civil service system follows state guidelines.

        “This is an enormous undertaking,” he said, adding that changing chief selection process is more likely. “What you've got here is what I would call a targeted change.”

        The police chief and the police union president are opposed to the plan, saying it will make political pawns out of department leaders.

        Mayor Charlie Luken, who supports the change, said it should be kept simple. Otherwise, voters could be confused by what the proposal will do.

        “We could make it too complicated to pass,” he said. “I would extend it to police chief and fire chief assistants, but I wouldn't go any deeper than that.”

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