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Conflict over mayoral appointment defeats nomination; city administrator’s pick confirmed as police chief
Summary
A heated council debate over whether the mayor can appoint a police chief ended Tuesday when the mayor’s nomination of Capt. Dave Hagar failed and the city administrator’s nominee, Greg Yeager, was approved after a separate vote. The dispute centered on differing legal interpretations of Idaho statute and city personnel rules.
The Coeur d'Alene City Council on Tuesday rejected a mayoral nomination for police chief amid a sharp legal dispute, then approved the city administrator’s preferred candidate.
Mayor [Mayor] introduced a motion to appoint Capt. Dave Hagar to the police chief position and cautioned council against treating unproven social-media allegations as fact, saying the accused should be given due process. The mayor argued he had authority to make the appointment and said he had obtained private legal counsel after disagreeing with the city attorney’s advice. “I have a legal right to make this appointment. And if you don’t like it, you can sue me,” the mayor said during the meeting.
Randy Adams, the city attorney, advised the council that under the city’s personnel rules and Idaho law—citing Idaho Code Section 50-204 and Bunt v. Garden City—department heads such as the police chief are appointed by the city administrator and that the mayor does not have authority to unilaterally appoint a department head. Adams told the council his review of statutes and case law led him to conclude such a mayoral appointment would violate city policy and likely state law.
Councilors debated whether the matter reflected a legal disagreement about authority or a broader political dispute between elected and unelected officials. Several council members described receiving outreach from the police association and other stakeholders; others urged reliance on established process and precedent. After roll call, the motion to approve the mayor’s appointment failed.
The city administrator then presented his nomination of Greg Yeager for police chief. Councilors again discussed the record, with some members saying organizational cohesion and adherence to established hiring practices favored following the administrator’s recommendation. On a subsequent roll call, the council recorded four votes in favor and two against, approving Yeager’s appointment. Interim city staff were asked to notify Yeager and extend congratulations.
The episode exposed a split over interpretation of municipal authority: the mayor said personnel rules and resolutions do not override statutory mayoral powers, while the city attorney and several councilors maintained that the city’s personnel rules and relevant case law limit the mayor’s authority to appoint department heads. Councilors discussed the potential value of an independent legal opinion but proceeded with the votes during the same meeting.
Next steps: the council recessed for a brief break and will move forward with administrative steps to formalize Yeager’s appointment and any onboarding actions.
