Police union flies banner over city calling for Billdt's ouster

Robert,

Apparently the Mayor and some council members don't care what the police officers in this city think. They dismiss our concerns and think we're too stupid to decide when our police chief has crossed the line. Isn't it a shame that speaking with them in private or addressing them at the council meeting isn't enough. I guess they think we're just going to go away. They are sadly mistaken. Since they are incapable to fixing the problem because it's the right thing to do, we'll have to take our case to the citizens now.

Mayor,

Whatever dirt the chief has on you, pay him off. Get the monkey off your back and get rid of him for the good of the City.

I heard rumor of this plane yesterday. I asked one of the patrol reps about it and he confirmed it was true. I asked what else was planned and he said nothing is off the table. He said this fight would get very political and he specifically mentioned Morris and Brinker as targets. Whatever the POA does to end the BS in this department I support it 100%.

Justified?
No reason to justifiy. His evidential normalcy
caused by lack of domineering or willful respect
for his law degree, caught, even my own purpose
by leaving me a warning, but although , did not
give me a short changed charge for uniing a red
light on my way to Cal State from the South.

I wonder what the Mayor will tell all of the curious onlookers who havn't followed the situation with the PD. Maybe he'll tell them it's just a "few disgruntled employees" or better yet, this just represents "a snapshot in time."

I attended the Route today and witnessed the plane for myself. I also witnessed the grins on the cops faces which spoke volumes about how they feel. Mr. Lawhead, start a recall on this Mayor. I'll sign. I don't want the cops in my City coming to work begrudgingly.

POA, I am very happy to see you are continuing the fight and not just letting us vote then letting the cause fade away. Keep it up and continue the fight until the very end be it soon or in March. As we all know those in charge of the city and PD just wait and wait and wait until things just fade away. We need Gangus Billdt out now so we can get back on track and be the premier law enforcement agency in SB County like I know we can be. Also, the next Chief CAN NOT be from LAPD. The two before Gangus were LAPD and that was the start of this mess we are in now. The POA needs to be activily invovlved in the screening process. I am proud of my POA!!

POA, I am very happy to see you are continuing the fight and not just letting us vote then letting the cause fade away. Keep it up and continue the fight until the very end be it soon or in March. As we all know those in charge of the city and PD just wait and wait and wait until things just fade away. We need Gangus Billdt out now so we can get back on track and be the premier law enforcement agency in SB County like I know we can be. Also, the next Chief CAN NOT be from LAPD. The two before Gangus were LAPD and that was the start of this mess we are in now. The POA needs to be activily invovlved in the screening process.

To Anonymous & SBPD Copper-- As much as I despise the last three chiefs, You need to get your facts straight. Zimmon was a product of LAPD. Before him was Dean who was from Vacaville & Sacramento County Sheriff's Dept.
I do concur that the next chief not be from LAPD, but I do see a need that he or she be from outside SBPD and not have any ties to city hall or even the POA (you listening Lawhead & puppetmaster Filson?). And the new chief needs to have the intestinal fortitude to clean house from Capts and above. The well is poisoned. I beleive that Capts and Asst. Chiefs are at-will positions with little or no civil service protection.

Anyone who knows anything about LAPD and all the case law they have on the books for their way of handling internal problems, no one would want any of them for Chief..

Good job POA on dropping the bomb on this one.

Good for the POA, if they are the ones who did this. I'm glad somebody has finally stood up to Morris and his antics. The no-confidence vote by the POA, and other PD employees obviously fell on deaf ears.

Too bad there wasn't enough room for some other cuncil members names on the banner. Well I guess the plane can fly again.

Listen to your cops Mayor! It looks like these guys/gals have some pretty creative ideas!!!

the banner said "MAYOR MORRIS, SUPPORT YOUR COPS. REMOVE THE PROBLEM AT THE TOP. It was very appropriate and seen by thousands...great idea !

To annonymous,

SBPD Copper does in fact have his facts straight. Prior to working for Sacramento Dean was an LAPD officer. It would be accurate to say both of them were tainted by that joke of an agency.

I have no doubt that the thousands of people who come to town for Route 66 must look at the slum around them and wonder why it still looks that way after so many years. I think that banner today gave them a glimpse of the problem. Not as it related to the police chief, but to the leadership problem in general. When you have a mayor who can't even deal with a simple problem like firing and replacing an inept police chief, how could you expect him to revitalize a City like San Bernardino?

To Lawhead and Filson- If you are the guys who set up that plane I have a new found respect for you. I have been sick of a poa that roles over and plays dead while this chief screws my buddies and causes them to go back to their old departments. I hope you have learned you lesson and will continue to fight that kind of stuff from now on. I agree with the other guy who asked about putting other names on the banner. Find out who the problems are in city hall and put all their names on a banner

In regards to: "Full story: Billdt to retire, scialdone in mix, search to start soon":

To Captain Mitch Kimball,

Your entry dated September 19 at 10:05AM needs to be addressed.

Mitch, we all know that you authored that blog (even though you didn't leave your name). You said regarding morale, "it will be the whinning from some of you that causes the morale to drop." Have you considered just how hypocritical that sounds coming from you? You have destroyed morale since you came aboard. You intentionally hurt and mistreat others for your own gain (Boom has such a wonderful mentor in you).

You also said, "so let's start acting like professionals." Those of us who have known you for a number of years have been waiting for a long time for you to take your own advice. Your style of professionalism is to 'beat people into submission until they say uncle.'

You said that, "the chief is not on a mission to destroy the Police Dept...he doesn't want to go down in flames." Of course not, he wants to make sure that the Steve Lowes investigation is completed so he can terminate him. He also wants to make sure that the Brad Lawrence investigations gets completed as well (with a "not sustained" disposition of course). If only he could have placed such priorities on the Dorjil investigation. But of course that would involve making an important decision that could have been viewed as negative from the public.

Isn't it interesting that Steve Lowes faces termination for a number of internal investigations generated by Boom. And Brad Lawrence has allegedly committed criminal offenses and there is no criminal investigation? Oh don't worry, Billdt will fix it all before he goes.

Mitch, you have become a toothless lion and even the sound of your growl is diminishing. What a great day it will be when you leave! However, I would think twice about having a retirement party. The only ones who will attend are the very managers that despise you but will smile and wave goodbye knowing that their lives will become much richer with you gone.

To Mr. Penmen and others who say things are getting too personal: You obviously haven't been the subject of years of intimidation and bullying tactics used by these men. Shortly you will see vibrant job actions that won't stop until our wonderful leader is gone (Mitch, get your helmet on, your on deck!).

The banner today is just the beginning. We want our community to see just how bad things are at our agency. I have served this city faithfully for 20 years and am appalled at the direction you men have led us.

Mr. Mayor and council, we are paid professional fighters. We don't take anything lying down and if we did we wouldn't have chosen to work this tough city. Usually it's bad guys we fight with guns, knives, and fists. If we have to fight with self serving politicians we'll do that too. Our cause is noble and we won't back down.

I heard the Chief has contracted a plane for tomorrow. The banner reads "promote Brian Boom, he has good ethics and character." LOL

Can you cops fly a banner about Morris' Operation Phoenix? I'm sick of my quarter cent sales tax paying for his child molester program.

Chief Billdt- Since you choose to ignore your police officers and civilian employees who don't have confidence in you, maybe you can look at your wife Susie and include her in your decision to stay or leave. She was extremely stressed out at the POA picnic. I guess its only fair since you have put many families through the same thing your wife is going through. Its is obvious you have more regard for your ego than your wife and daughter. Someday, (when this mayor tells you you can retire) you will not be wearing those stars on your collar and then you will be just Mike. The same Mike who will have to ask someone else to teach his family about loyalty, integrity, and honor. Billdt you need to realize no one wants you here any more. Your retaliation tactics are criminal and unacceptable. This coward mayor will offer you up when the time comes and you are going to be stupid enough to be there when it happens. Ms.Estrada gave you way too much credit when she said you can read the writing on the wall. If you truly care about this organization then you would have pulled the plug two weeks ago. The citizens of this city deserve more from their Mayor and Chief. Mayor Morris you need to remember that if the police officers and civilians employees are not happy then they will not do their best for you until this Chief is gone. You are telling us you don's care about your police officers, you may want to think about the message you are sending. Grow a set and get rid of this lame Chief

I think that plane gave many of us a new sense of motivation since the no confidence vote. I like others have worried that nothing was going to happen. At least now I can see the POA is trying.

Obviously, very trying times for our agency. When I was a youngster I grew up watching the SBPD with awe. I was amazed at how the SBPD was a no-nonsense police department. When it came time to decide which department to apply with, the choice was easy for me.

I didn't just want to work as a police officer. I only wanted to work for the San Bernardino Police Department. A respected, no-nonsense, take care of business organization.

I watched and learned what I could throughout the mid-70's to mid-80's. The vehicle pursuits, foot pursuits, and fights. All in the name of law and order. I remember watching the green-shirt SMASH team work their magic on the streets, guys like Lee Chennault, Richard Taack, Pierre Weakly, Mike Desrochers, BK Smith, and countless others. Hell, once I even got to see Tossetti chase down a criminal during a foot pursuit from 14th and Mass to Baseline and Davidson.

I recall hanging out on E Street downtown in the late 70's, an area where many teenagers would cruise their souped-up cars all hours of the night, again with the SBPD safeguarding the decent folk. I personally think thats how route 66 rendevous really got started, but everyone has their perception. The best thing about E Street was a trip down to the Orange Julius stand at 5th and E Street. An era gone by I guess. I think that was the time in history when San Bernardino really had a chance at becoming a world-class city.

Later, after getting hired, I watched guys like Steve Filson work his magic in the homicide interview rooms. I watched a skilled master at the art of interrogation, mentally breaking down the hardest criminals until the truth came out, solving numerous murders with his partners as they went about their business.

These are just some of the fond memories I have of our department. It was an easy choice to join here. I knew, going in, work would always be challenging and personally rewarding.

This is just part of the SBPD I remember. Don't forget our history and better times. Perhaps many years of exposure to crime and violence has taken a toll on some, maybe, I don't know.

But in this time of controversy, don't forget our mission. There are criminals out there plotting their next murder, shooting, or dope delivery. There are common thugs casing potential elderly victims at local shopping centers.

Stand fast and be ready for the unexpected, both menatlly and physically. Although there are numerous distractions facing us as an organization, let us not forget our true mission here. Crime will not pause for us. The harcore criminal will not put down his weapon while things get sorted out. Be ready, Train Hard - Fight Easy. Stay focused.

Dan Gomez

To the men and women of the SBPD, and any other law enforcement organizations going through turmoil, please don't lose sight of why we do this job.

18,274 men and women in this country have lost their lives protecting the communities that they served. The SBPD has lost seven brave men in the line of duty. These men were upholding our profession's code of ethics at the time of their death. It is sad that the only time we truely recognize our brother and sisterhood is during the death or critical incident involving an officer.

I think that we as an organization are losing the esprit de corps that made our Department the premiere law enforcement agency that we once were (as explained in Sgt. Gomez's earlier blog entry).

Is everything perfect all the time? No. Can things be better than they have bee the past few years? Yes. But in order to get things back to the way they used to be, it will take admissions that mistakes have been made, silent admissions that egos have gotten in the way, changes in the way things have been done, and most importantly; the need to respect one another as men and women, police officers, police administrators, citizens and human beings.

Police Officers and Administrators,please read on to re-educate yourselves as to why we do what we do!

Law Enforcement Code of Ethics:

As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful
against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.

I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others.

Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department.

Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided in me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in
the performance of my duty.

I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise
for crime and the relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear of favor, malice or ill will, never
employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.

I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the
police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession...law enforcement.

Let's stop the CRAP that has poisoned our Department.(From the top to the bottom)

To TW,

I absolutely agree with one statement of yours. We need to stop the crap that has poinsoned our department. According to 76% of our men and women, the crap poinoning the department is the Chief and his top managers. Let's not forget, leadership and accountability must start at the top if it is to be emulated at the bottom. I have no doubt we will soon force change and get back to being the premier law enforcement agency in the County. I envision an agency in the near future where men and women are promoted based on their character and achievement instead of their allegiance to one man. We currently have an agency of factions instead being one team. I hope our City leader will take action soon and let the healing process begin.

To Anonymous,

I think I know who you are and you're a cancer to our department. Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth. All you do is whine and cry. It really doesn't matter who the chief is because your whole career you have been like this. I suspect you didn't get hugged enough as a child. Why don't you and Joe Turner take a hard look in the mirror and I bet you won't like what you see.

Beautiful Old Goat, But in case you don't know, I went to city hall the other day only to find out the POA is conducting city business out of its headquarters. It's shameful that the whiners and fabricators continue to perpetuate this systematic destruction of Mayor Morris and Billdt. As they slowly align the next Chief and Mayor to fit there agenda I would imagine they will try to move the rest of city hall there for ultimate control.

TW said 76% of the men and women voted against the Chief and top managers. Thats 76% of just over half the total membership that showed up. I guess 43 others are dumb or maybe we see through this BS. Just as a younger officer said in the blog he is not sure now that he made the right decision. We have a real young department and you know how that works. Its the snowball affect. You know, I'm a member, pay my dues, I'm told things are bad, must be true, guess I'll vote no confidence.

Then contact the general employees for a vote and we all know they have been upset over the lack of decent pay and benefits. They have lost jobs due to budget problems so the Chief must be responsible. See how it works. Its amazing how the disciplined snivel, don't get there way, use different avenues and ultimately draw comparisons to other how other Chiefs handled things and then scream favoritism and retaliation. I guess the always evil administration is out to get me syndrome is alive and well, that is until you become management. Discretion is long gone and hopefully it doesn't hit the court system and judges.

WOW...The one way to know if someone is telling the truth in a situation like our city has is if the bad guys come out and try to deflect interest elsewhere. I am just curious as to where I.A. is in all of this. Why isn't I.A. investigating the claims out POA has against the top brass? I mean, bullying and whatnot- That's pretty bad. I thought you guys had ways of dealing with criminals within the department. I feel for you guys' situation very deeply. It's horrible, but one would think that D.O.J. would pop up some time during this mess...
What's next: flying the American flag upside-down to signal distress to I.A./D.O.J.? These are serious problems and it's time to fix them. Why not get the mayor for keeping him as the chief between now and March? Will our city make it that long? If there is criminal activity, there's GOT to be SOMETHING you can do to stop it. You are, after all is said and done, the ultimate guardians of our city.

With all due respect I hope the person (anonymous), who wrote the above is not an officer. I know the candidate pool is slim, qualifications are hard to meet,but if he is and he is writing reports I guess there are problems. Its apparent he has also bought into the POA antics and is confused about the "bad guys". I guess when some issues slowly come out and its not favorable to what you think or have been told then "deflect" becomes the thought of the day.

Old Horse go out to the pasture and stop the rhetoric!

Nope. I'm not a cop. I just hate to hear that my local cops are having issues. I actually appreciate their hard work and I am genuinely curious as to why IA or the DOJ hasn't come in and played a little game of slap the punk with the bad guys who like to attack folks who like things to run smoothly in the department.

This is like the reality show "Survivor" , you don't know who to believe and what their motives really are. It was just a few years back that Mike Desrochers and some others were part of the Kimball clan (his minions), things didn't go their way and look how things have blown up. Too bad we can't just vote people off of the island, people from both sides of this mess.

To old horse and old goat,
I know that neither one of you have ever stood up for anyone or anything but yourself, that’s why you seem to be such a strong supporter of the current administration. There are people in department that care about the current situation and are willing to stand up and do something about it, unlike you two who have never done anything but go with it. It’s a shame you are so brave here but can’t say who you are why? Is there fear? Or are you a coward who hides behind a computer? This is why we need change in the department, FEAR. I see several people in the POA and in the department in general giving open comment. You however hide, unlike the people you are running down on this blog.

One of those named "Anonymous" threw a challenge my way on a previous blog thread. I want to be sure he gets my answer, even if it is way too long.

Since I inadvertently omitted the editing I did in my first blog entry,(I'm not too up to speed with this technology)here is what I intended to say:

To Anonymous,

Give me an opening, I’ll give you a sermon.

No, I haven't been "the subject of years of intimidation and bullying tactics by these men" as you correctly write.

However, beginning in about 1989, I have been the subject of what was and is, in my opinion, attempted intimidation and bullying tactics by people like Bob Holcomb, Shauna Clark, Ralph Hernandez, Valerie Pope-Ludlam, Freddie Curlin, Eddie Negrete, Judith Valles, Pat Morris and others.

Example: the filing of four complaints against me with the State Bar. I was told that Bob Holcomb and Ralph Hernandez were jointly responsible for three, Judith Valles for another.

I was cleared on each one after lengthy and sometimes expensive investigations.

Example: I was falsely accused of sexual harassment by Ralph Hernandez, acting on "information" allegedly supplied by then City Administrator Shauna Clark and a private investigator she supposedly hired to interview all of the former employees in my office. (No lady/woman has ever filed an harassment complaint against me, Ralph Hernandez is the only person to have done so.)

After being cleared of Mr. Hernandez’ sexual harassment charge once, the exact same charge, same people, same circumstances, same time period, was refiled during the 2006-2007 Mayor's race. Again, the State Bar found no basis for discipline. Lots of negative newspaper and T.V. coverage as a result of this allegation. That is the real reason they do it, to try to teach those of us who see wrongs and try to right them to keep our mouths shut.

Example: Pat Morris supporters, including then-mayor Judith Valles and several council members, staged an agenda item to refer my conduct during the mayoral election to the District Attorney. Morris supporters, including Shauna Clark, came to the televised Council meeting and publicly voiced tales of alleged terrible deeds on my part, including rehashing, you guessed it, the SAME sexual harassment charge made by Ralph Hernandez, the same incident of which the State Bar keeps clearing me. Mayor Valles filed a complaint with the State Bar, accusing me of failing to “recuse”myself from the meeting while I was under attack.

In other words, they were supposed to be able to have a succession of speakers tell lies about me at a Council meeting and I was supposed to leave the room. This time, the Bar cleared me of the charges filed with them, and the District Attorney cleared me of any wrongdoing in the election.

The Morris campaign went on to do an excellent job of misrepresenting my years as city attorney. But, that's politics. "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," Harry Truman said.

I mention this to show "anonymous" that he isn't the only one who has felt unfairly maligned. I'm glad that I'm still in the kitchen, and I never feel sorry for myself.

Example: The gang of four hired a San Francisco Bay Area law firm to "investigate" the allegations of sexual harassment made by then-Councilman Ralph Hernandez and paid them almost $100,000 in public funds for their report.

After the District Attorney election in which I was a candidate ended, and I had lost that election to Dennis Stout, the City Council rejected the report, despite spending $100,000 for it, and I went into personal debt from that campaign to the tune of around $94,000.

I thought then that it was worth it to go into debt for honest government; I still think that is a worthwhile venture.

Later, that $100,000 report was used as a basis for the complaint to the State Bar, which cleared me after its investigation revealed that the report consisted primarily of hear-say statements, allegedly made (if they were made at all) by "anonymous" (sound familiar?) individuals. Female staff members in the City Attorney's office, including some who were no longer employed there by the time the investigation was conducted, helped clear me of Mr. Hernandez' false accusation.

Example: A newspaper filed a law suit in Superior Court against the City, but naming me as the "real party in interest," to get a copy of the $100,000 report.

I hired a lawyer to defend me and argued, successfully, that the report SHOULD be released. For all of the uproar, it ended up saying very little that made me look bad. The cost to the taxpayers, on this attempted intimidation and bulling tactic? Over $150,000.

Example: an "audit" of my office, intended to show misuse of funds and incompetence was engineered, in my opinion (with considerable evidence to back that opinion up) by then-Mayor Bob Holcomb and then City Administrator Shauna Clark.

The result: the audit showed none of what it was supposed to show; instead, it showed efficiency, cost-saving practices and the need for more staff and a new computer system in the San Bernardino City Attorney’s office.

After the audit was presented, Shauna Clark stated during open session at a city council meeting, "the audit was flawed." (Even though it was Shauna Clark who had recommended the particular audit firm to Holcomb - the firm was actually hired by Mayor Tom Minor and his city council after Holcomb left office. But they went with the firm Shauna Clark and Holcomb had previously selected.)

Example: After my office, in the late 1980s, reported the city librarian to the District Attorney for misuse of public funds I was lambasted in the press for picking on the “unfortunate man.”

He was later convicted at a jury trial of felony misappropriation of public funds, removed from office and forbidden to ever hold public employment in this state again.

This is one of the "examples" my political opponents point to when they say I "persecute" people.

When my office reported a Planning Commissioner to the Fair Political Practices Commission for voting to block a new gas station that was to go in about one block from the Planning Commissioner's gas station I was again blasted for picking on yet another “unfortunate man.”

He was subsequently convicted after a jury trial on conflict of interest charges, removed from office and left the state.

After the trial was over, a complaint was filed against our Planning Commission Deputy City Attorney(who testified for the prosecution at the trial) and against me, for allegedly reporting a “client” to the FPPC. In a traditional attorney/client situation, that could be a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

The State Bar cleared both of us. (It seems our adversaries don’t understand the line of case law that says lawyers who are appointed to represent a city or county are hired pursuant to provision(s) in a city or county charter, and do not have the same attorney/client relationship with the public officials they advise that they would have if they were “retained,” or “directly hired” by a client.

This is another "example" used by my opponents as "evidence" of me “persecuting" my political opponents, even though in this case, the man had supported me for re-election and contributed to my campaign. Hardly a “political opponent.”

Example: When our office built a bribery case against four councilmembers: Valerie Pope-Ludlam, Ralph Hernandez, Eddie Negrete and Freddie Curlin, the newspaper lambasted me for not prosecuting the suspects right away, even though the misdemeanor political crime we were originally investigating developed evidence of felony bribery which my office didn't have the legal authority to prosecute.

We turned the case over to the FBI; they tried a "sting" operation that failed and dropped the case. Our office continued to pursue it for EIGHT years until the State Attorney General finally agreed to file felony bribery charges against Pope-Ludlam and Negrete. Hernandez had already passed away and Curlin had fled the country.

Both Pope-Ludlam and Negrete eventually pled guilty, had to pay the City the amount of the bribes they took, and Pope-Ludlam served jail time.

Throughout the investigation I was periodically chided by the newspaper, criticized at public comments during televised council meetings, attacked in letters to the editor and in hundreds of conversations by political opponents, people who share Pat Morris and Tim Prince’s feelings towards me, people who used the "gang of four" investigation as “another example of the City Attorney persecuting innocent people."

Timothy Prince, local attorney and current candidate for the U.S. Congress, even came to two council meetings, defended the gang of four at the public dias, and said they were “victims” of the City Attorney's zealous persecution of innocent people, "just because they disagreed with him."

By the way, the Sun actually ran political cartoons of me “abusing” the council majority, while the investigation of the rampant corruption going on inside City Hall was still being reviewed.

The difference between the County and the City? An elected city attorney's office was on top of the situation after the first two months. The County had to wait until the Feds came in to do their house cleaning.

As a result of our investigation, and Mayor Tom Minor's decision to air the results of that investigation in public at a televised council meeting (after the D.A., the Attorney General and the FBI bowed out,) three of the corrupt councilmembers were thrown out of office at their next election; the fourth one wisely decided not to run for re-election. He was the one who surrendered his drivers license and left the country "voluntarily."

Unlike the corruption in County government, the San Bernardino City electorate only had to wait until the next election to take care of business.

YET, my opponents still mention this very difficult effort and successful anti-corruption investigation as an example of my office "hounding" people.

Man, did they fight. They cut the city attorney office budget and eliminated both of the city attorney investigator positions; the very investigators who were delving into their corrupt deals. We had to go to court and sue the city council to get those investigators re-instated so they could finish building their case. We won in court and the investigation wasn't halted as the corrupt council members hoped it would be.

Today, my opponents still regale unknowing newer arrivals to our city with the story of how the City Attorney sued his own city council.

By the way, they filed a complaint against me with the State Bar on that one too. They said the law prohibited me from suing my own client. The Bar, and cases involving elected municipal attorneys, saw it much differently. We were cleared again.

But, while all this was going on, and before they were voted out of office, at every televised City Council meeting the gang of four took turns accusing me of wrong-doing, and improper personal conduct, so much so that my mother quit watching those meetings.

The last televised council meeting she watched was in 1995 when Ralph Hernandez said, "Mr. Penman is an immoral man. He's married to one woman and living with another."

It was true; I was separated and going through a divorce. The "other woman" I was living with? My sister Margie. That one really upset my mom, who was bedridden by then with an amputated leg and heart disease.

Mom passed away before the gang of four was prosecuted, never witnessing the ultimate vindication of the tenacity and very low tolerance for corruption, especially corruption by public officials, that she and my father had instilled in their five children.

Example: The City Council “censored” me, when I wrote a letter to a man for whom the city was paying for two motel rooms and two meals a day. He was quoted in the newspaper saying, “in Mexico they treat us better than they do here.”

Many of my constituents took umbrage with that remark, especially since we had evacuated the man and his family from a fire-susceptible trailer park, fed and put he and his family up at tax payers’ expense in a motel until he found a house that the City financially helped him to purchase.

My conduct that brought on the “censor?”

I wrote the man a letter on office stationary, since my office was the one coordinating the evacuation and relief efforts, offering to continue to give him the same assistance we were then giving him, or providing he and his family transportation, one way, to a location under the control of the government that he thought would “treat him better.”

Yes, I would do it again. I would also willingly accept being censored again for the same reason. My children and grand children are Hispanic; my letter wasn't about ethnicity. If the man felt he would get better treatment by the City of Riverside, I would have offered him transportation, one way, to Riverside.

Example: An election opponent accused me of falsifying a campaign endorsement of myself - the State Attorney General cleared me of that charge, and then cleared me again when his decision was appealed - that one cost my personal bank account a bundle in attorney fees;

The list of examples continues until even I’m bored with them: the false smears of the last Mayor's race (another expensive election/lesson for me) and on into the more recent city attorney election where I was accused of, and called almost everything except having integrity and trying to do what I believed to be right.

Yes, anonymous, I've never been subjected to the "years of intimidation and bullying tactics of these men," that you feel you've had to suffer through.

But I think I've paid my dues despite missing that experience.

Did these things bother me, stress me? Yes. Did seeing my mother's hurt pain me? Yes. Did I ever feel sorry for myself and think of quitting? Not on your life.

I think I've learned a little about being on the receiving end of actions of "tough guys" who believe lies, intimidation and bullying will always prevail over integrity, patience, fortitude and tenacity.

I've also learned that they are wrong, at least sometimes. But that is up to us, isn't it?

It is up to us not to quit. If we quit, they win. I might have left this job voluntarily years ago, but I wasn’t about to let them win, and if I left, I realized they would have won.

Our Dad taught us, “the system holds your family hostage for your silence.”

But the lesson we've learned is, “only if you let it.”

Years ago, one mayor told me, when he was trying to dissuade me from opposing him on an issue where I was convinced he was wrong, “you need this job, you have a family to support.”

The inference I drew was that if I didn't shut up I would lose my job as city attorney and my family would suffer as a result.

That mayor lost that fight. His efforts to remove me from office the next time I was up for re-election were no more successful than was his attempt to dissuade me from doing my job in the first place.

“Never, ever, ever, never give up,” Winston Churchill said. He knew something about fighting corrupt governments.

I think if you believe you are right you should keep on fighting. If they beat you, but you go down fighting, hopefully you’ve bloodied them up enough, weakened them enough, for the next honest guy or gal to win.

That's not to say you don't have to pick and choose your battles, you do. But don't feel sorry for yourself. Soldier on and get the job done. God put us here to help others, not to cry over our own misfortunes.

Remember, if you give up, they win, no doubt, no hesitation, THEY WIN!

Davy Crockett’s Motto: “First be sure you’re right, then go ahead.”

Maybe today that saying is an anachronism, but even if it is, I still think it’s a good one.

Jim Penman

Penman,
The anonymous who asked where DOJ and IA are is not the anonymous you're referring to. I am still curious as to why they can't help our police department with corruption at this level.

Hey Old Horse,

You must have taken your statistics class at Augie U. Have you ever heard of a Gallup or Pew Research Poll? I'll tell you a little secret. They don't actually talk to all three hundred and one million people in the United States. Polls are just a representative sampling of the majority. In this case a sampling of over half the membership and the second largest turnout ever to a general meeting.

Let me make a suggestion big guy. At your next stategy session with the Chief tell him you want to be reassigned from the propaganda division back to managing his crime stats. You're obviously over your head in this arena.

Your corruption your tring to clean up goes higher up yours is not the only department thats corrupted just look at our city I've never in my life as a citizen of this city seen so much dishonety from everyone in this administration and I've seen some dosies. And just when you think you've seen it all more crap comes spilling out. And maybe the cops have a leget grip but so do all the other city workers more work, less workers per dept and now volentary demotions in other words take this job were offering you with less pay ,lets not forget to do the same work you were doing before and don't complain about it or get laid off. So maybe we should fly a banner that says Mayor we have lost confident in you and your administration we want you out and take all your people with you. Maybe it to much to says they don't make planes that big how about just , WE,VE HAD ENOUGH QUIT!

Mr. Penman,

Thanks for the lengthly response. Very well said! The problem for police personnel is that we don't have a forum to speak our minds without fear of retribution from the administration. This blog offers that.

If I sounded like a "quitter" or "felt sorry for myself" that was not my intent. My (as well as the POA) intent is to fight on and see positive change take place in the police department. We will never stop in that endeavor!

If you took what I said as a challenge to you, please accept my apologies. My challenge is to our leaders (Billdt, Kimball and Boom in particular). They are the real problems we face as an organization.

Again, thanks for the great response!

Did Jim Penman take his medication? His skewed view of the world explains the dysfunction of city hall ever since he rode in on his white horse in 1987.

He still sings the same old tune about going after the gang of four. Valerie Pope Ludlam was his friend and supporter; that is why he made a deal for her to vote to save him from sexual harassment sanctions in return for his endorsement. When she failed to endorse, he turned on her and prosecuted her.

Eddie Negrette? What a joke! He was so pitiful even a 6th grader could have successfully prosecuted him. He couldn't even afford a lawyer. Penman had nothing on Ralph Hernandez and Dr. Curlin, so Penman conveniently blames Hernandez' death and Culin's long-planned return to France, where he perviously lived and went to medical school, for Penman's 50% success rate.

Penman spent hundeds of thousands of taxpayer dollars and thousands of hours of city staff time to double cross his friend/supporter Valerie and get a couple of thousand dollars out of Eddie Negrette, who died in debt a few years ago. Like everything Penman does, it doesn't matter what harm is caused to the City, as long and Jim and girlfriend Wendy get their headline!

Penman, how about doing some legal work for a change and let the mayor and city manager, along with the POA, worry about the police chief! Take your meds; don't fan the flames at city hall!

Wow! Jimbo is up late.....how are you going to earn your baseball tickets if you have circles under your eyes at the office? How can you call yourself SB Taxpayer? Isn't it your wife that's paying the taxes since you work for free?

I guess you're just jealous that Jim Penman gets to earn his own salary and you are stuck with Daddy's. Well you must aspire to walk in Daddy's shoes since you haven’t struck out on your own – got a law degree like Daddy, working for Daddy, living in the house Daddy used to own - maybe if you're lucky you can get his sloppy seconds too!

Don't worry - Penman will eventually retire and you can run for City Attorney. Maybe Daddy's has some more favors stored up so he can try to get you elected like he did Milligan...whahahahahahaha!

Well said Mr Penman!

I knew you had battled some problems in city government but did not realize to just what depth it went. However I believe some of your detractors only read part way through your monolog they missed the most important part of what you said.

“Never, ever, ever, never give up,” Winston Churchill said. He knew something about fighting corrupt governments.

I think if you believe you are right you should keep on fighting. If they beat you, but you go down fighting, hopefully you’ve bloodied them up enough, weakened them enough, for the next honest guy or gal to win.

That's not to say you don't have to pick and choose your battles, you do. But don't feel sorry for yourself. Soldier on and get the job done. God put us here to help others, not to cry over our own misfortunes.

Remember, if you give up, they win, no doubt, no hesitation, THEY WIN!

Davy Crockett’s Motto: “First be sure you’re right, then go ahead.”

Maybe today that saying is an anachronism, but even if it is, I still think it’s a good one.

Again very well said Mr. Penman It makes me proud to know someone of your caliber is in the City Attorneys office. Now if only we could get someone in the Chief's Office with the same type of HONOR, INTEGRITY and sense of DUTY TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY. Not just to himself or to the self serving hipocrite that currently sit's in the Mayors Office.

Mr. Penman,

You fought the false allegations with vigor because you believed you were wrongly accused by those trying to use politics to undermine effective government. You used all resources: financial investment, providing the press with the truth, standing your ground, not shying away from a fight, even if it was costly.

The SBPD officers are doing the same. Officers have been wrongly accused, wrongly disciplined, have seen others not held accountable for their harmful actions and seen the department languish for fear of making even minor decisions. You should not expect anything less, they are using all means to rectify the harm created within the organization, not for political ends, but to stand firm for what is right, as you did.

This effort has been costly for many of those standing for what they believe is true.

You were once considered the watch dog for the city, championing the fight to insure everything was done properly. There are major problems within the police department. This is not hype generated by a few disgruntled employees.

The organization needs someone like you to drop the politics and get down to the business of watching out for what's best for the city.

Hope you will join the cause.

SBTAXPAYER/JIM MORRIS,

Hang in there Jim. Maybe some day you'll have the chance to practice real municipal law on your own too.

Sorry this can't be longer, gotta run and take my meds.

Jim Penman

Mr. Penman,

I recall that whole "They treated us better in Mexico" thing. I was so angry when I heard that man say that and after he was being put up on the city's dime! I was so glad when you wrote him that letter! If things were so great in Mexico, what did he come here for? He should have been happy to get back there to where things were so great! I get so tired of people coming here and expecting America to cater to them or people coming here illegally and then waving the Mexican flag around and screaming: "Viva Mexico!" I ask again, if you love Mexico so much, why the heck are you over here in the U.S.? Go back to your beloved country and stop insulting ours! They don't mind coming here for money or as so many immigrants say "a better life" but they spit on our flag, break our laws and insult our government who for whatever reason always seems to be subsidizing them? What's worse is that this seems to be a problem among Mexicans who come here, I never seem immigrants from Brazil, Croatia or the Sudan waving their flags around. Only Mexico. And a surprisingly large number of Latino gang members committing crimes in our city are illegal immigrants. Take a guess where they're from. then these same people act outraged and scream racism when someone calls them on their on their crap.

Mr. Penman, I know your first wife was Latina and your children are Latino so it is ridiculous that some uneducated folks called you a racist. And before people start playing the race card and accusing me of racism, know that I am a Latino woman who is just telling it like it is. My grandparents came here LEGALLY about 80 years ago from Mexico and their children were born here. The family assimilated, learned and spoke English, worked hard and paid taxes and didn't expect America to cater to them. I call myself an American and I wouldn't be caught dead waving a Mexican flag.

Old Horse wrote:

"TW said 76% of the men and women voted against the Chief and top managers. Thats 76% of just over half the total membership that showed up. I guess 43 others are dumb or maybe we see through this BS."

That is an interesting line of reasoning, Old Horse. When Mayor Morris won his election in February of 2006, he garnered 63.5% of the 16,000 votes cast.

Mind you, the total number of registered voters in San Bernardino is approximately 67,000.

In other words, just under 15% of the registered voters voted for Mayor Morris.

There are approximately 354 police officers in San Bernardino. I believe the number of POA voting members is around 336. Thus, just over 40% of the POA membership voted no confidence.

This is going to sound trivial to some, but it makes me laugh to see someone (Old Horse 4:14 p.m. post) criticize someone else (anonymous) in this instance, for not being a strong writer. I am not an English major, but I know the basics. You incorrectly used the word "its" instead of "it's." Also, the period goes inside the quotation mark, not outside.
Don't you just hate it when people major in the minors? (cough, cough...Mitch Kimball). But I am employing the method myself right now to get the reader's attention to refocus on the issue at hand: namely, the corruption that plagues the leadership at SBPD. Billdt's lack of integrity, conscience and spine has allowed him to breed (and attempt to breed) a command staff that is as manipulative as the man himself. God help us!

This is my first time blogging and I will sign my name. Thank you Mr Penman for your well written words and signing your name.

I am in the fight and will not waiver. I have endured at least 5 major IA investigations over the past two years. All occurred after I complained on Kimball and all were internally generated. All are retaliation.

The demoralizing affect of fear and retaliation are like a cancer to our great police department.

I have a Civil Service hearing on October 15,16 and 17 to fight a demotion recommendation for an IA investigation initiated by Brian Boom. I have requested an open hearing and invite everyone to attend. See for yourselves what Chief Billdt and his administration can orchestrate. I am proud of the work that I have done and the decisions that I have made. The truth will stand alone...

I am an open book to you Mr. Penman. Ask to see my file. I will gladly share it all.

Sergeant Steve Lowes, SBPD

Sergeant Lowes,

When (at what time) and where is your hearing taking place?

I'd like to be there if possible.

Thanks!

Molly:
Times and locations often change depending on the schedule of the civil service board. Generally they are at city hall but, in 25 years of service, I've never had a hearing...so I'm not sure. I will keep you posted.

Serenah,

To use your favorite phrase, WOW! Three posts just to respond to little ole me? I feel honored.

And even a little pitbull threat for me too? So sweet of you think of me! And I see some time passed between your postings, boy you must have really been stewing about what I said. Don't get your feelings all hurt now.

Don't worry lady, no need to sic your killer watchdog on me, you are the last person I'd want to get close to. I'm sure lots of others feel the same way....

But I'd be careful about posting threats on the Internet. I hear some law enforcement agencies frown on it. If I suddenly got mauled by a pitbull, you'd be the number one suspect!

anonymous, you're pathetic. She didn't threaten you. From what I can see, she was telling you to leave her alone and you weren't listening. Are you so thick headed that you don't know when the argument is done? You made no point, she made tons of them and you're not smart enough to stop picking at the little things and grow an actual opinion on the subject. I can't stand it when people who do something to better the community get attacked for it.