The Metropolitan Crime Commission is recommending Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price get outside help picking a new police chief.

Longtime Chief Tom Buell stepped down at Thursday night's City Council Meeting saying, "It's been a great ride, as they say.  Started in 1971.  I'll miss it, it's been some rough times lately, it's a heck of a way to leave."

That ended Buell's 30 years as chief. He leaves office January 2nd of 2009.

Rafael Goyeneche of the Metropolitan Crime Commission says, "I don't believe the chief did this voluntarily.  I believe the chief was pressured into submitting his resignation."

The Chief came under fire for his handling of the Citizen Service Fund. A state Legislative Audit said most the money raised under the Toys for Tots banner was used for other things, like Christmas Parties and gifts for city employees.

That audit was even more critical of Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price, saying he made personal expenditures on city credit cards, and took improper gifts from contractors who do business with the city.

But now, Eddie Price is in charge of replacing Tom Buell.  At last night's council meeting, Price said, "He has done an excellent job as chief.  It's going to be hard to replace him."

The leader of Mandeville's City Council, Trilby Lenfant, is calling for a committee of council members and citizens to help pick the new chief. 

Rafael Goyeneche agrees: "If the mayor appoints the chief, because of everything that's happened, with the legislative auditor, the fact that there's an attorney general's investigation, there's an FBI investigation.  There are complaints pending before the Ethic's Commission, it's going to taint that chief.  It's going to be a terrible burden for that Chief to overcome."

Goyeneche says the panel should have more citizens on it than elected officials, but ultimately, how this is handled, is up to Eddie Price. "If he wants to do the right thing for the people of Mandeville, I think he goes with the committee.  If he's looking at it to solidify his power base or to prove that he's still in control, he'll make the call himself.  We're just going to have to wait and see what option he chooses."