By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Sam Simon has resigned as St. Louis Public Safety Director, according to Mayor Francis Slay's office.
A statement this (Monday) morning says Charles Bryson will take over the position immediately. Bryson previously had been Slay's deputy chief of staff.
Slay's office says Simon was not forced out; a spokesman for Saint Louis University confirms Simon will become SLU's Director of Public Safety next month.
Simon has been in the middle of an ongoing impasse between Mayor Francis Slay and Fire Chief Sherman George over promotions within the fire department.
The public safety director supervises the fire department, the city's two jails, the building division, and other offices. More than 1,500 employees work for the department, the city's largest.
Last week, Simon ordered George to promote officers within the fire department or face consequences. He had given George until this Friday to make the moves.
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To read Simon's letter to George, click here. |
Mayor Francis Slay asked George to do the same thing earlier in August and appears to be tired of waiting. "I can tell you this, that when your boss gives you a direct order to do something and you fail to do that, there will be consequences," Slay said Thursday.
"What those consequences are I'm not going to speculate but Chief George knows the chain of command."
Chief George's attorney, though, says the order from Simon is illegal. "[George] has scheduled interviews with all of the candidates and what he intends to do without regard to Mr. Simon's letter is to proceed with those interviews and only when they're concluded make a decision as to whether it's appropriate to promote, or not promote or do nothing," said Tom Blumenthal.
Blumenthal says the city's civil service rules designate the chief as the appointing authority for all personnel issues.
Bryson will be paid $106,000; he lives with his wife and two children in the Penrose neighborhood. Simon had been Public Safety director since November, 2002.