Chief Navarre loses job, on paper, for 1 day

12/21/2005

Toledo police Capt. Jack Smith was chief for a day - at least on a fax cover sheet.

No disrespect was meant by listing J.L Smith as chief instead of Chief Mike Navarre on the sheet faxed to the news media Monday by the department's investigative services bureau.

Capt. Ron Spann said a clerk changed the sheet while getting ready for the new year. The clerk printed out a copy to see if it turned out correctly, got busy, went to fax something, and used the sheet. It wasn't meant to embarrass the chief, and the matter was corrected, Captain Spann said.

Chief Navarre declined comment.

Captain Smith said he didn't make the change, and believed it was inadvertent. He said the chief is still the chief until something changes.

Mayor-elect Carty Finkbeiner said he plans to make Captain Smith the next chief, replacing Chief Navarre.