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Florence council accepts disciplinary recommendations for police chief, approves ordinance first reading clarifying officers serve at council's pleasure
Summary
The Florence City Council unanimously accepted a subcommittee's disciplinary recommendations concerning Police Chief Wayne Thompson, restricting his spending authority and requiring additional reporting; the council also approved a first reading of Ordinance 2026-02 clarifying that police officers serve at the pleasure of the city council.
The Florence City Council unanimously accepted a subcommittee's disciplinary recommendations related to Chief of Police Wayne Thompson during its Feb. 3 meeting. The council moved to revoke the chief's autonomous spending authority, require written approval from the mayor or city administrator for expenditures up to $2,000, and require prior written council approval for any other expenditures from any funding source including forfeiture funds. The motion to accept the recommendations was made by Debra Bivens and seconded by Mary Condon; none opposed and the motion carried unanimously.
The committee's written recommendations also require the police department to provide a complete inventory of assets purchased since the chief's employment, submit a monthly schedule of officers to the city administrator and mayor, notify the city administrator with a 'green sheet' whenever out of the office (including location and times), and refrain from making employment decisions (hiring, promotion, compensation changes or discipline) without final City Council approval. The committee asked for proof, within seven days, that a named individual (David Guthrie) had been removed from access to city property and communication systems, including the Signal platform; the council accepted those recommendations as part of the action.
Separately, the council approved the first reading of Ordinance 2026-02, titled in part "REGARDING ITS POLICE OFFICERS; CLARIFYING THAT ... POLICE OFFICERS SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE CITY COUNCIL," restating the city's at-will employment policy for sworn officers. The ordinance passed first reading by motion of Mary Condon, seconded by Debra Bivens, with unanimous support.
The meeting record does not include direct public comment for or against the disciplinary recommendations, nor does it record any dissenting votes. The council's action places several procedural limits and reporting requirements on the police department; subsequent steps (such as additional ordinance readings or administrative implementation) were not specified in the minutes.
