Money for a review would come from a fund of $257,503 in seized assets.
At Tuesday's meeting, interim City Manager Lori LaVerriere said staff recommended Broward County-based RCultures, with a bid of $21,600, to conduct an "organizational cultural assessment."
But Commissioner Steven Holzman said only the Washington, D.C.-based International City/County Management Association, with a bid of $50,000, had proposed a comprehensive study.
In November, Holzman said, "the consensus was, 'Let's do a comprehensive view of our Police Department.' I'm a little disappointed with the staff, seems to me, coming back with something we didn't ask for."
Two other consultants submitted proposals: Arizona State University professor Marianne M. Jennings' "evaluation of ethical culture and ethics training," ($9,500-plus) and Palm Beach State College's proposal to instill "ethical excellence — building a reputation for integrity." ($9,600).
"I don't feel necessarily we need to have a complete re-evaluation," Vice Mayor Bill Orlove said.
He said the department of about 160 officers had been accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement in 2010, 2007, 2004 and 2001.
"The heart of this issue is looking at who the Police Department hires, how are they training and how are they then followed up," Orlove said.
Interim Mayor Woodrow Hay agreed that what's needed is more of a "fine-tune."
"There's room for improvement," Hay said. "What the chief has done is just phenomenal. In any organization, if you look at any city, you can always have some bad apples somewhere there. And we have a police chief that has weeded those individuals out. "
Newly appointed interim Commissioner Mack McCray asked about a 2005 city comprehensive plan that helped lead to the department's 2007 accreditation. He suggested the commission revisit that document before deciding on a study. The panel unanimously agreed