When politicians interfere in a non-political process, they taint its integrity. The Natchez Board of Aldermen is considering abolishing its Civil Service Commission, a board designed to protect the integrity of the personnel process for police officers and firefighters.

Simply put, this is a bad idea.

Abolishing a system designed to take politics out of hiring and promotions would do just the opposite &045; inject politics right back into the matter.

The proposal comes on the heels of a series of decisions members of the board of aldermen and the mayor have made to undermine the authority of a board they appoint.

The Civil Service Commission &045; a type of board in place in cities of similar size to Natchez and larger across the state &045; is an important part of the personnel process for Natchez’s police and fire departments.

The commission creates a uniform system for such tasks as conducting exams for promotions and hearing appeals of suspensions.

Abolishing that system would open a huge can of worms for the Natchez Board of Aldermen.

How would the city then run the process of hiring, making promotions and hearing suspension appeals for both the police and fire departments?

Would the board of aldermen inject itself into all key personnel matters of the two agencies?

We suppose the board could make a plan to follow the same rules as the commission. But can they be trusted to keep politics out of their work? Recent evidence (in the rehiring of a previously dismissed officer by the board, without use of the protocol in place to make the hire) suggests not.

Like many political issues that come in front of the board of aldermen, this one appears driven by a small group of very vocal residents. They are the proverbial squeaky wheel.

The board needs to step outside the influence of a small group and consider how the change will affect all who have a stake in the issue. And that is a long list that begins with police officers and firefighters and their families and ends with those they are sworn to serve and protect.

If ever there were a time for a community to speak out on a key political issue, it is now. Citizens should familiarize themselves with what the Civil Service Commission does and how it operates &045; and tell their aldermen and the mayor what they think about this proposal.

We urge you to make your opinion, pro or con, known to those who will make the decision, either through a letter to the editor of this newspaper or a call to your alderman or the mayor.

To get in touch with the mayor and board of aldermen, call:

4Mayor Phillip West at 445-9816.

4Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux at 446-7856.

4Ward 2 Alderman Ricky Gray at 442-3107.

4Ward 3 Alderman Bob Pollard at 442-9199.

4Ward 4 Alderman Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West at 442-7973.

4Ward 5 Alderman David Massey at 446-5718.

4Ward 6 Alderman Jake Middleton at 442-3546.

To submit a letter to the editor, e-mail

newsroom@natchezdemocrat.com

or mail a letter to P.O. Box 1447, Natchez, MS 39121, or call 442-9101.