Back in April, when all the riots on CNN were brought to you by Cincinnati, not Pakistan, our city's ruling leaders huddled for an emergency meeting, which is what cities have instead of anxiety attacks.

        Police Chief Tom Streicher says the mayor walked in and asked what the city manager intended to do to restore law and order.

        “I was working 22 hours a day. It was the third day of the riots,” Chief Streicher recalled.

        He also remembers City Manager John Shirey's reply to Mayor Charlie Luken.

        “He said, "What do you want me to do? I can't fire the police chief.'”

        Mr. Shirey says he didn't mean it. Mayor Luken says he didn't hear it. But Chief Streicher says, “It's an absolute fact. I was there.

        The chief says he was “furious,” and told the mayor “cops would not stand for it if you fire a chief.”

        If cops had walked out because their chief was fired to appease rioters, Cincinnati would be Trashistan.

        Same meeting, three versions: didn't say it; didn't mean it; said it and meant it.

        Who do you trust?

        That's the question voters should ask about Issue 5. The Charter amendment would do many good things. But even its backers admit it would make it easier to fire the police chief in a crisis. And that's not good.

        Backers insist Issue 5 still protects the chief from politics. I don't buy it. All it takes is enough panicked politicians and the chief is gone like Cincinnati's “safe” reputation.

        It has already happened. Safety Director Kent Ryan was fired while he was hospitalized for a heart attack during the riots. The mob wanted someone's head. And as Mr. Shirey allegedly said, the one wearing the chief's hat was not available.

        Putting the police and fire chiefs under the thumb of a stronger mayor and weaker city manager unscrews the lid on corruption. It will be easier for politicians to meddle in police work, suppress investigations or infect public safety with politics.

        Another story from April:

        “I had fingers pointed in my face and (council members) told me point-blank to tell the people what evidence I had in the Steven Roach shooting,” Chief Streicher said. “Had I followed their orders and told them, it would have compromised the investigation.”

        Instead, he told the jittery council members to back off, or he would ask the prosecutor to charge them with interfering in an investigation.

        It's hard to imagine a police chief doing that after Issue 5 makes him a puppet on tangled political strings.

        I've heard complaints about the “culture” of the police division — usually from people who think lawless riots are caused by too much law enforcement. But I haven't heard many specifics.

        Minority hiring is no problem. The police division is now more than half minority and female. A black man is in line to be chief. Cincinnati already has a black fire chief.

        Civilian control is no problem. I count eight layers, including three civilian panels and city council, which recently ordered cops to fill out paperwork to prevent racial profiling.

        Backers say it's all about good government. I say bring it back when Cincinnati has some. Because I don't trust politicians who can't run their own meetings to run the police department without turning it into the revolving door Cleveland has, with eight chiefs in seven years. Cincinnati has had a dozen since 1886.

        One last word from Chief Streicher: “My greatest fear is that the future of the police chief will be determined by people standing on table tops, kicking chairs, throwing garbage cans and threatening police officers,” he said, vividly describing the council meeting that erupted in riots.

        You can agree with him or not, believe him or not. But if Issue 5 passes, we may never hear such candid comments from a police chief again.

        Contact Enquirer Associate Editor Peter Bronson at 768-8301; fax: 768-8610; e-mail: pbronson@enquirer.com. Cincinnati.Com keyword: Bronson.

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