The Anne Arundel County Council has defeated a resolution that could have ultimately given the council some oversight in the appointment of a county police chief.

At the council’s meeting this past Monday, the the measure was defeated in a 4-3 vote, just shy of the five needed for charter amendment bills. Councilmen Jerry Walker, a Crofton Republican; and Pete Smith of Severn, Chris Trumbauer of Annapolis and Andrew Pruski of Gambrills, all Democrats, voted for the resolution.

The measure would have placed a question on the November ballot asking voters if they wanted the chief of police appointment to require both county executive and council approval.

The county executive now appoints the police chief.

The move would have called up the police chief to be nominated by the county executive, then required confirmation by the council.

Councilman Derek Fink, a Pasadena Republican, said he voted against the resolution because the council’s approval would likely be a rubber stamp. The council should instead consider legislation that would protect a police chief if he or she could be fired for politically motivated reasons, he said.

“I think maybe I would be more supportive if we did something on the back end,” Fink said. “Maybe it would take the majority of the council to remove the person.”

In Annapolis, the highest law enforcement official is nominated by the executive and approved by the legislative branch.

Smith said he voted for the resolution because he was concerned the chief of police might be put in awkward political situations.

He also said the council should approve the county attorney position, since it serves both the county executive and the council.

“I’m not opposed to us being a third party for those specific jobs,” Smith said.

In other council action, members voted to amend the county’s 2017 Land Preserva-