Back and forth reaction continues over the Ohio Supreme Court suit by six Akron police captains, trying to overturn the appointment of assistant police chief Charles Brown by Mayor Don Plusquellic.

Akron Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 president Paul Hlynsky, appearing on the WAKR Ray Horner Morning Show on Friday, says the mayor "stepped all over the charter" by appointing Brown.

He says the union has a problem with the appointment whether Brown is a sworn peace officer or not. Mayor Plusquellic's office says that Brown is a sworn reserve officer.

"If they're saying that Charlie Brown is a civilian, then they're taking away our bargaining unit work on the labor side of law," Hlynsky told WAKR's Ray Horner. "If they're saying he's a sworn police officer, then they've violated civil service rules and basically circumvented the entire promotions process."

Hlynsky says the Akron captains were not offered a chance at the job.

Mayor Plusquellic's spokesperson, Stephanie York, says the mayor can appoint his own assistants.

"The mayor, as Safety Director for both the police and fire divisions, is in charge of the police division," York tells AkronNewsNow.com. "And he has the right to appoint any assistant he wants in order to help him administer the police division."

York says though Brown is a sworn officer, it's still standard practice for officers report to civilian leaders.

"At every level of government in the United States, safety forces report to civilians," York says. "In charge of the military is the president of the United States. In charge of Akron's police division is the mayor."

Hlynsky says those leaders don't "mingle" in the chain of command.

Hlynsky says Mayor Plusquellic "doesn't like cops, he doesn't like their authority and he doesn't like the fact that they're not afraid of him".