A city report released recently does not support efforts to seize the mayor’s authority in appointing a police chief, though certain checks and balances are called for.

The report recommends that the Board of Supervisors be allowed to vote to confirm the mayoral appointment of the police chief, but it did not support the idea of supervisors participating in the appointment process. Currently, the mayor has the power to appoint and terminate the chief of police with the approval of the Police Commission, a body with three of seven members appointed by the board. Mayor Gavin Newsom appointed police Chief Heather Fong in January 2004.

The legislative analyst’s report, scheduled to be discussed at a Public Safety Committee hearing today, comes amid a tough budget season in which Fong has withstood cuts to both the department’s command staff and the Police Academy.

The study was requested months ago by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi to explore alternative methods of appointing or firing The City’s police chief. Allowing the board more power in the appointment process, as well as making the chief an elected post, were among the suggestions in board discussions.

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But the report suggested that taking away the power of appointing officers from the executive branch would lead to favoritism and instability in a position that is already affected by politics. The report also found that electing a chief of police would be an unusual step for a city the size of San Francisco. The largest city in the country and the only city in California to put the police chief on the ballot is Santa Clara, which allows the chief to serve an unlimited number of four-year terms.

The San Francisco City Charter currently has no term limits for the chief’s position and a newly appointed head of the Police Department is not required to fill out a contract. The legislative analyst report suggests changing that to provide more incentive for officers to aspire to the top position.

Anyone who takes up the chief position should sign a contract that includes a severance package and term limits, according to the report. The chief is currently an at-will position that is subject to termination with or without cause.

bbegin@sfexaminer.com