COEUR D’ALENE — Coeur d’Alene Mayor Dan Gookin is demanding the resignation of City Attorney Randy Adams after a heated dispute over how the city selected its new police chief.
The conflict erupted during Tuesday’s city council meeting when the council voted to hire Greg Yeager from Colorado as the new police chief. Gookin had supported a different candidate and claimed he had the legal authority to make the appointment himself.
“This is documentation of 10 years worth city attorneys attacking our police chief…that’s what happens in this city,” Gookin said during the council meeting.
The mayor said he has observed a pattern over time that has plagued the city council for many years.
“There has been a pattern that I have observed over that time of disrespect toward our police department…the undermining of my authority to make the appointment and the surprise announcement was part of this ongoing effort to embarrass our police department,” Gookin said.
The mayor’s call for Adams’ resignation surprised other council members, who said asking the attorney to resign is not helping the already strenuous situation.
“Yeah when I saw that…taken aback and disheartened by it…because I’m thinking ‘Oh man, that just puts an even worse light on the situation,'” said City Councilmember Dan English.
Gookin said Adams has lost his confidence.
“I wanted it let known that this is someone who has lost my confidence…that has definitely…I think…undermined an elected official…and that his actions are not appreciated and that it was going to be very difficult for me to continue this relationship knowing this is a person whom I do not trust,” the mayor said.
City Attorney Randy Adams was not available for an interview but provided a statement saying he won’t resign and appreciates the support he’s received from former mayors and current city officials.
“The mayor’s comments were a complete surprise to me. I do not have any bias against him and gave him the same opinion I would have given to any mayor or council member who asked me the same question,” Adams said in the statement. “My client is the city of Coeur d’Alene, not the mayor or any council member.”
The city now waits to see if Greg Yeager will accept the job.
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