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Police Auditor ResignsReed, Campos differ over who knew what whenby Erin Sherbert on Apr 21, 2009San Jose’s newly named police auditor resigned Monday evening following community reaction to the disclosure that his brother is a San Jose police officer. Chris Constantin was appointed to the $169,000-a-year post last week in a closed session meeting of the San Jose City Council. He succeeded Barbara Attard, whose contract was not renewed after sought expanded powers to review investigations into complaints of police misconduct. Earlier in the day, Councilwoman Nora Campos fired off a letter to Mayor Chuck Reed blaming him for furthering the distrust between the community and the San Jose Police Department. Campos claimed that the mayor never disclosed the fact that Constantin’s brother is a homicide detective in the police department. “Mayor Reed, that fact that this material piece of information was not disclosed makes me question the integrity of the hiring process,” Campos says in the letter. She goes on to say: “During the hiring process, you informed me that anyone with potential conflicts of interest or the potential to draw negative publicity would be immediately disqualified.” The Mayor’s office told the Mercury News over the weekend that the council had been informed that Constantin had a brother on the San Jose Police Force. Not true, according to Campos staffers. Meanwhile, community leaders called on Constantin, who works in the city auditor’s office, to resign, citing the potential conflict of interest. Constantin apparently left work early Monday, according to the auditor’s office. In response to Campos, the Mayor put out a memo of his own, asking, among other things, that the council allow the public to see council votes, as well as other discussion and materials presented at the closed-door meeting when the group signed off on hiring Constantin. It was at this secret meeting that the mayor says he told his colleagues about Constantin’s brother. by Erin Sherbert on Apr 21, 2009 |
 Chris Constantin stepped down Monday amid questions over his ability to remain independent, given that his brother is an SJPD officer. |
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