Controversial Public Safety Director Applies For Spokane Police Chief Position

SPOKANE,
Wash. - The Indianapolis public safety director, Frank Straub surrounded in
controversy has applied to be the next Spokane Police Chief.
 
KHQ has
confirmed with Spokane city spokesperson Marlene Feist that Mayor David Condon
spoke with Straub earlier this year and "encouraged" him to apply for the
position. However Feist would not confirm that Straub is one of the 13
candidates but media outlets in Indianapolis Indiana confirmed Straub applied
for the position.

Phone calls to Frank Straub's office were not returned to KHQ.
Straub became Indianapolis' public safety director in January of 2010 and is set
to resign the position August 1st amid pressure from county and city councils
and the Police Union.
 
In April the
former Indianapolis Police Chief Paul Ciesielski stepped down from his position
after alleged mishandling of evidence during  the trial of an Indianapolis
police officer who, while drunk on duty slammed his police cruiser in to a
motorcyclist killing the rider.

Also earlier this year the Fraternal Order of
Police asked Straub to step down as Public Safety Director because of a 30
million dollar budget shortfall with the city's police and fire department.The
FOP believed it was because of Straub's "Money Mismanagement."

 
The Indianapolis
city council also postponed twice a vote of "No Confidence" for Straub and later
decided not to hold the vote because Straub submitted his resignation for the
position. Straub has extensive criminal justice experience including the
Director of Public Safety in White Plains New York.

He was also the deputy commissioner of training for the city of New York post 9/11 attacks. Straub also
has experience in metro policing models where city and county law enforcement
agencies are combined. Something Spokane city mayor David Condon has stated in
the past is something he is looking for in a Chief candidate.

 
Mayor David
Condon declined to comment about the police Chief hiring process, or about his
conversation with Straub. Upon Straub's announcement to resign as Indianapolis
Public Safety Director, Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard praised Straub for a
number of things. Ballard stated Straub had brought the Indianapolis homicide
rate to its lowest in 15 years. Ballard also said Straub provided security for a
very successful Super Bowl.