The city manager is charged with the responsibility of appointing and removing department heads, and assistant department heads, the balance of the organization being under civil service. He is the responsible official to the city council, which is the policymaking body. Mr. HUBERT. Did you appoint Chief Jesse E. Curry to his position? Mr. CRULL. I did. Mr. HUBERT. Is that a political appointment, or just how was it made? Mr. CRULL. We don’t have any political appointments. We are a council-manager government. We have no political parties as such. The national parties take no activity in Dallas. Mr. HUBERT. If you make an appointment, does the mayor or the city council have anything to do with it by way of suggestion or rejection? Mr. CRULL. No, sir; the responsibility for the appointment and for the performance of the appointee is with the city manager. The council does set salaries for all appointees. Mr. HUBERT. It is possible, I suppose then, for the city council to veto your appointment by not appropriating the money for the salary, is that possible? Mr. CRULL. It is possible. It hasn’t happened in 30 years. Mr. HUBERT. The selection of Chief Curry was your own selection? Mr. CRULL. That is correct. Mr. HUBERT. I take it from what you have said then, it was based upon merit? Mr. CRULL. In my opinion; yes, sir. Mr. HUBERT. Would you explain just what is the ordinary effect of your relationship with your department heads, including and particularly the head of the police department insofar as the administration and policies of the police department are concerned? Mr. CRULL. The general administration is left to the chief and his staff. They are trained. The administrative policies, the general personnel regulations, and things of that nature first come out of our office to the department, and then are followed by the different departments. We do check through the budget office on any deviation in policies. Department heads request changes in policies, purchasing, financing, personnel, and operating. In addition to that, the chief, since a police department is a delicate operation with a particularly difficult public relations problem, would discuss things which might have a particular public application so far as public acceptance. Mr. HUBERT. Is it within your power to overrule any decision or action taken by the police department or the head thereof? Mr. CRULL. Not any action. It would be within my power to overrule on a policy matter and on administrative matters, but of course not those things which were covered by law. Do I make myself clear? Mr. HUBERT. Yes; but except for those duties and functions of the police department that are established by law, you would have the authority to direct the chief to do or not to do any action that you thought? Mr. CRULL. That’s right, any department head.