Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Police and Fire Headquarters at 200 North Third Street in Burbank
In the Los Angeles Times print edition and on its website today an extensive report about the troubled Burbank Police Department. The report covers quite a bit of territory from the allegations of suspect beatings, racial discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and those federal investigations into possible misconduct in the Burbank PD.
The allegations, lawsuits, and scandal have taken a heavy toll on the department. The Times says, “The Burbank force has been so bitterly divided by the accusations that newly appointed interim Chief Scott LaChasse, who this year replaced Chief Tim Stehr, asked psychologists to help him sort through the morass and come up with a corrective plan.”
Also in the Times’ report, some new details surrounding the suicide of Burbank Police Sergeant Neil Thomas Gunn Sr. on October 29, 2009. Sgt. Gunn left two notes in his truck before taking his own life, according to the Times. One note from Gunn reportedly said, “This is absolutely work related.” Click here to read the story.
On this blog, I have been covering the recent problems and controversies plaguing the Burbank Police Department since last spring. Click here for those posts.
UPDATE: 3/15/10
Over on Jim Carlile’s blog today, a heated discussion about the Times’ article; among the topics, what was left out of the report and speculation the newspaper was pressured to water down its story.
Also, I’m hearing more media reports are in the works about the Burbank PD.
