Future city police chiefs will not be protected by the state Civil Service system, voters decided yesterday, meaning the next chief could come from outside the ranks of the Gloucester Police Department.

The vote was 3,043 in favor to 1,878 opposed to Civil Service removal in the only ballot question in yesterday's local election.

The "yes" vote will give the city's mayor more flexibility in changing future chiefs, including going outside the department, something proponents of removing the protections have said would increase accountability and broaden the pool of potential talent.

"I am thrilled," said Ward 1 Councilor Jason Grow, who spearheaded the move toward removing the chiefs from civil service even as it became clear he would lose his bid for an at-large council seat.

In addition to opening up the field of potential hires, the departure from Civil Service makes it easier to fire a sitting chief, a move that can now be appealed to the state Civil Service Commission.

"I am very pleased the vote was taken in a calm time for the Police Department," said Mayor Carolyn Kirk about the referendum and called it a "very thoughtful vote."

Opponents of the ballot measure, including the city's police senior officers' union, have warned that removing the position from Civil Service will expose future chiefs to political pressure and lead to a "revolving door" of chiefs falling in and out of favor with elected officials.

Those in favor of keeping Civil Service protections have also said making the chief the only member of the department without the protections would further alienate the position from other senior officers and patrolmen.

First placed under Civil Service by ballot in the 1970s, a divided City Council has debated removing the protections for the last two years, this year deciding to take the issue back to voters.

Yesterday's vote does not affect the status of interim Chief Michael Lane.

Now that the position has been removed from the system, City Council will take up the rules that will govern the hiring of the chiefs, Council President Bruce Tobey said.

That debate is likely to bring back questions about whether the city should try to hire internal candidates before going outside the department.

While the fate of Civil Service for the police chief was answered by voters, City Council has had to go through the state Legislature to remove the protections for the fire chief through a home rule petition.

The petition is waiting for a hearing in the Legislature.

Patrick Anderson can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3455 or panderson@gloucestertimes.com