HB officer once again returns to the force that loves to hate him
In the ongoing legal and public saga between officer Todd Lewitt and the Hermosa Beach Police Department, Lewitt scored another victory today with the city deciding Lewitt won the latest round and deciding to reinstate him to the force, effective this coming Monday. Hermosa Beach's attorney, Michael Capizzi (the former Orange County District Attorney), said the latest round was about a legal issue, which was decided.
It's a long tale that basically began when the seven-year veteran became outspoken about the force and city officials, took some heat for giving an allegedly drunk city manager a ride home instead of arresting him and was named in several excessive force lawsuits. In November 2005, he was terminated after being accused of trying to sneak a gun past security at John Wayne Airport. He claims he was fired in retaliation for all the other stuff. A County Civil Service Commission found he didn't do anything wrong, and ordered him reinstated.
When he returned to work last year, he was ordered to undergo a medical background check. When he refused, the city sued.
In September 2005, Lewitt had this to say about the department: "I've been a pain in their butt," he said. "They know it and I know it. They've come at me with dozens of internal investigations. I've fought each and every one of those and won. They hate my guts. They hate me and I hate them. It's no secret."
His attorney, Corey Glave, says his client excited to return to the department ... who he plans to sue for civil rights violations.
Look for a full story later in the Daily Breeze and on dailybreeze.com
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About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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It can be tough to come back to work for a city or Department after so many issues. Just a playing the devil's advocate, but can an officer have loyalty to a city or a department with which he has so many issues? Likely, he is better off emotionally taking a monetary settlement, and going to work elsewhere. He will never like working there...and he may say that they don't like him either. It's sort of like a relationship that went bad, long ago.
The other thought it, some people work for a city for years, and never have an issue. Others are constantly suing as a remedy for unfair treatment. Again as the devil's advocate, what is the difference between the two types of people? Is it the system, or is it them?