It looks like police Chief George Gascón was serious when he suggested changing the city charter to allow more power for police chiefs to discipline problem officers.

Gascón is putting together a work group and hopes to have the paperwork for a ballot initiative in to the Department of Elections by Dec. 15, in time for the June, 2010, ballot.

The chief wants to send fewer cases to the Police Commission, which is required to approve any disciplinary actions of more than a 10-day suspension. He says the chief should have the power to terminate an officer, while others would prefer to take a less drastic approach.

The Police Officer’s Association has yet to weigh in on the proposal.