San Bernardino police Chief Michael Billdt provides resume
The big story is below.
After two-plus years, the public gets its first glimpse of Police Chief Michael Billdt's resume.
Our story today shows that the chief has a degree from an unaccredited college, an extreme rarity among California police chiefs today. A representative from a state commission says he knows of no other chiefs in the state without an accredited bachelor's degree.
Mayor Pat Morris maintains the chief is "eminently" qualified for the post and points to his experience and record. Chief Billdt himself says he learned plenty from his time in the unaccredited, now defunct college, and points to his 14 years of command experience and his management certificate as resume builders.
Click below ...
SAN BERNARDINO -- Roughly 20 years ago, a handful of local police officers of varying ranks enrolled in August Vollmer University, popularly known as "Augie U."
Those in the department at the time say the program cost around $3,000, lasted less than two years and featured classes at the local station, taught by law enforcement professionals.
Police Chief Michael Billdt was among the students. When Mayor Pat Morris announced in March 2006 that he would keep Billdt as interim top cop, Billdt said he'd earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the Orange County-based school.
He didn't mention that the school was unaccredited and defunct.
With the city's Police Department gripped in a number of crises - questionable investigations, open mutiny by rank-and-file officers, allegations of criminal investigatory misconduct - questions about Billdt's qualifications have reemerged.
The embattled chief steadfastly declined to provide the public a resume outlining his qualifications, which is common practice among area department leaders, until Wednesday. But the resume hasn't quelled speculation that Billdt may have been hiding an inadequate resume, including a bachelor's degree from an unaccredited, long-defunct program.
A spokesman for The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), which establishes minimum selection and training standards for California law enforcement officials, said he doubted any chief in the state had achieved his rank without a 4-year, accredited degree.
"As a general rule, we do not recognize or issue credit for unaccredited degrees," said POST spokesman Bob Stresak.
August Vollmer University, which took the namesake of the famous former police chief of Berkeley, is something of a mystery. Few electronic records exist, since the school ceased operations before the Internet was widely used.
Stresak said he had no record of the school or its accreditation.
Vicky Phillips, founder and chief analyst for geteducated.com, an online watchdog group for colleges and universities, said August Vollmer was part of a wave of unaccredited, for-profit degree-issuing programs in that proliferated in California in the 1980s.
"California became home to a lot of diploma mills back then because it issued licenses to operate as a business pretty easily," Phillips said. "Now there's a lot more scrutiny."
Most southland departments require accredited four year degrees for top management posts. In the City of Orange, Sgt. Dan Adams said he'd never heard of August Vollmer, and that unaccredited degrees are worthless in that city's department.
"An unaccredited degree is treated like no degree at all here," Adams said. "And I'm sure we're in-line with most departments on that."
Vollmer's classes at the department raised eyebrows, one retired captain said.
"They had a rented office in Orange, no classrooms, and they would hire guys from departments to hold classes in the same department," said Jeff Breiten, a former captain who clashed with Billdt before retiring. "Those BA's aren't worth the paper they're written on."
After months of declining to provide the public a resume, Billdt on Wednesday provided a resume and copy POST management certificate via fax.
In his resume, Billdt says he attended Arizona Western College for two years. He did not take a degree.
Billdt said the department encouraged people to enroll in a bachelor's of science program through August Vollmer University in 1989. He earned a degree in 1990, he said. Billdt said the program took about 20 months and consisted of classes at the police station.
When asked whether he regretted that Vollmer was unaccredited, Billdt said, "At the time they were going through that process, and I knew it was accepted by POST," Billdt said.
Stresak could not confirm whether the program was accepted by POST, but Billdt did earn a management certificate from POST in 1997.
Billdt stood by his degree from Vollmer.
"It was a good program, I learned a lot from it," Billdt said, quickly adding that it was only a portion of his resume.
"If you look at my command experience for the last 14 years, that's what's prepared me to lead the department, in addition to my other education and ongoing in-house training," he said.
Billdt attended his lofty position after starting as a reserve officer in the department in 1976 one step at a time.
Instead, Chief Garrett Zimmon was hired, and Billdt waited another five years to be appointed to the top job when Zimmon abruptly left, paving the way for Billdt to take the post without a lengthy, competitive process.
The focus on Billdt's qualifications has intensified as crises and criticism have mounted, much of it stemming from charges of secrecy, in-house investigations, politically-driven policing and charges of creating a brutal, retaliatory atmosphere.
"A good deal of the allegations we've been hearing over the last several weeks have been troubling," said City Attorney James F. Penman. "There's concern among some elected officials as well as both current and retired police personnel that there's too much political consideration being given to how things impact higher ranking city politicians."
Mayor Pat Morris, who raised some eyebrows when he once publicly proclaimed Billdt "remarkably qualified" and among the state's best, stood behind his praise Wednesday, calling his performance "outstanding."
"I absolutely stand behind my previous statement," Morris said. "Chief Billdt is eminently qualified to be our chief; he has over 14 years of police command experience."
What executive leadership is training is Billdt referring to. A large percentage of the chiefs in California have competed programs such as the FBI's National Academy, P.O.S.T. Command College, West Point Leadership Academy are just a few. Mike Bildt was never accepted to any of those courses. Perhaps if Mike Billdt had attended one of those formal leadership development courses (not something held within the walls of SBPD over a day or two) he might hve aquired some leadership traits required to function as a true leader and SBPD would not be in turmoil today as it is.
Be more specific Mr Mayor, exactly why is he "eminently qualified". There are about 330 police departments in the State of California and if you were to review the minimum qualifications for a vast majority of those Chief of Police positions, Chief Billdt would not even meet the minimum qualifications for about 300 of them. Guess San Bernardino is at the bottom of the list when it comes to Chief's of Police and their qualifications.
"I absolutely stand behind my previous statement," Morris said. "Chief Billdt is eminently qualified to be our chief; he has over 14 years of police command experience."
This, coming from a Mayor that is so embroiled in scandal, does not give me a lot of hope that this Police Chief is "eminently qualified".
For so many San Bernardino Police Officers to come forward in such a public manner and ask for a change in leadership clearly shows that this Chief is not a leader. Without strong leadership, in both the Police Department and the City, the city is doomed.
Who read this resume with a Diploma mill degree and hired him anyway?????????? Did the council read this resume and approve him, or the mayor or just who hired him with this sort of degree?????
Who read this resume with a Diploma mill degree and hired him anyway?????????? Did the council read this resume and approve him, or the mayor or just who hired him with this sort of degree?????
Four year degree at an accredited college =
$20,000.00 a year
Being handed the chief of police position by Morris = $190,000.00 a year
Watching Billdt be tangled in his own web of lies = priceless!
Four year degree at an accredited college =
$20,000.00 a year
Being handed the chief of police position by Morris = $190,000.00 a year
Watching Billdt be tangled in his own web of lies = priceless!
I have an idea.....
We get the SBPD officers who did the vulture t-shirts to do a new "college" t-shirt with August Vollmer University on it and we can sell them in the PD parking lot to fund Billdt's retirement after his butt is fired!
Well let me cross San Bernardino Police Department off the list of police departments I would ever apply for while that Chief of Police is the boss
If the Mayor wants to give his Chief of Police blind loyalty, maybe a recall should be considered and send them both into retirement!
You would think if Billdt was truly a smart man, then he would know you can't pass off a degree like that as the real deal. Oh, oh yea, maybe he can, in San Bernardino! This town is an embarressment.
Come on people!
get over it! he has done a great job in keeping our cities crime rate down! He may have got it from an unaccredited college, but he is a smart guy.
Come on people!
get over it! he has done a great job in keeping our cities crime rate down! He may have got it from an unaccredited college, but he is a smart guy.
I worked for the San Bernardino Police Department for 20 years, retiring in 2004. During that time I watched Chief Billdt rise through the ranks to become the fine chief that he is today. He is intelligent, fair, and knows more about law enforcement and community relations than anyone I have worked for which includes 6 different chiefs. The citizens of San Bernardino should be very proud of the police department and Chief Billdt.
Let the record show that Jim Hamlin is commenting on the performance of Chief Billdt even though he has been retired since before Billdt was elevated to Chief.
Ill take the word of a 27 year veteran who is the immediate past president of the POA.
Thank you.
Chief Billdt is as eminently qualified to run the SBPD as Mike Miller was to supervise children at Operation Phoenix. We all need to sit back, relax, and recognize our Mayor's profound wisdom in choosing the best men for leadership roles in city departments. In fact, he just may have a future as a professional head hunter.
I proudly served the citizens of San Bernardino for 30 years, and retired in 2002. I pains me to see what has happened to a once proud,outstanding police department under the leadership of Mike Billdt. Mike has ruled by intimidation and retaliation, a trait he learned from his mentor Lee Dean. The best thing Billdt can do for the department is to sneak into his office late at night,clean out his desk, and quietly slip out of town.
Hamlin said that Chief Billdt knows more about "community relations" than anybody!!
That is crazy. Billdt is by far the most inept person at "community relations" in law enforcement in the whole county! Nobody likes him and nobody trusts him .. He is a bitter and shifty little man who is "eminently" UN-likable.
Say what you want about him, but don't say he's good at community relations.
Billdt good at community relations? Get a clue! This man has absolutely no concept of community relations, community policing, community anything.
All the more reason to get Billdt on record, and answer the tough questions some city council members have. Once he is compelled to attend the "ask & answer" session and lies under oath, he will no longer be able to testify in a court of law. As a cop, his career would be done. Oh wait a minute, that must be what the Morris Clan is afraid of. Better keep your mouth shut Billdt.
A Person stated: he has done a great job in keeping our cities crime rate down!
Violent crime is up - look at the base stat numbers - not the released statistics - Last year almost every category of violent crime like rape and burglary were up from the previous year.
To quote Winston Churchill - "Statistics are like a drunk with a lampost: used more for support than illumination."
Here's the problem, Chief Billdt had no shame in buying an unaccredited degree from August Vollmer University. To make matters worse he allowed many others to buy similiar degrees from other diploma mills and to count those as real degrees for promotion. In fact, many of these "degrees" could be purchased for a couple hundred dollars and no classes ever had to be attended. Oh yeah and if you wanted to graduate with honors add another $100. Now guess what, he has promoted many of those with these degrees and placed them into management positions. How many "leaders" in the organization have "distance learning degrees"? Well, Captain Kimball has a degree from California Coast University. Jeez, they even give "life experience" credits for undergraduate degrees. Half their website is justifying their accredidation and how much they're a "real university". This is the culture he has bred, one of lies and deciet and which has eroded the crediblity of a great department. Not until Cheif Billdt and his cronies are gone will this department be able to turn around and become respectable again.
RECALL!
RECALL!
RECALL!
Recall the mayor and elect someone who's got S.B. in their hearts!
lets be honest someone just got ticked off because they got demoted so now they are going after everyone involved thinking they will be put back on top.it started too much animosity amongst between us officers we need to get past this and do what we' ve been trained to do take care of citizens in san bernardino
lets be honest someone just got ticked off because they got demoted so now they are going after everyone involved thinking they will be put back on top.it started too much animosity amongst between us officers we need to get past this and do what we' ve been trained to do take care of citizens in san bernardino
Robert and Andrew: It appears it is time to "print", not just blog, the real base stats for crime and really research the Mayor's claim that per capita crime is the lowest in 20 years. That is simply NOT TRUE. It is time the public read the FACTS, not the Mayor's spin about the stats based on their base numbers. I am all about the truth. If the real numbers prove out that the great work our rank and file police officers are doing is working, than great. But, if not, than the public is again being lied to. Let's get back to that, as we have talked about before, because the Mayor is relying on that fact to bolster his support related to a now-known falsehood about Chief Billdt's bachelor's degree. Another reason the Council should reconsider the subpoenas. Under oath, people will usually tell the truth. Thanks for listening.
As a veteran SBPD police officer I submit to you the following information that should get the attention of the mayor, council, citizens of San Bernardino and federal investigators:
1. Some time ago, decorated sergeant Steve Lowes filed a grievance against his supervisor (then Lt. Mitch Kimball). Under intense pressure from the police association Kimball was replaced by Lt. Brain Boom. Since then Lowes has found himself with 4-5 internally generated investigations created by Boom. Lowes now faces not only a demotion but termination as well. Are these investigations legitimate or retaliation against a superb sergeant? Did Chief Billdt place Boom as the supervisor for this reason? Read on.
2. Sergeant Brad Lawrence is finally under investigation for a variety of criminal allegations. However, when it was first discovered that he had detained people by putting them "on ice" he was not placed on administrative leave (that would be standard operating procedure for this type of allegation). Rather he was allowed to continue to supervise his narcotic unit. Within a matter of weeks he was placed on administrative leave for having his officers re-write a search warrant to include additional motel rooms that they had no probable cause to search. A brave officer from the other narcotic unit turned him in.
Why didn't his supervisor place any accountability steps to prevent Lawrence from continuing to operate his narcotic unit in such a manner? I think we need to ask Lt. Boom that question. Boom hand picked Lawrence for that job, they work in the same office, and Lawrence kept him intimately involved with his investigations. Anyone who knows Boom understands that he is a micro-manager and would know the ins and outs of his unit. Boom is pushing hard to become captain and realizes that he can promote himself by pushing Lawrence to increase production and by discipling Lowes. Everything an unscrupulous chief would desire in a captain (just ask Mitch Kimball who has recenltly been promoted to captain by Chief Billdt).
3. Why hasn't Chief Billdt done anything about this? He has. He covertly sent paper work to city hall asking approval to promote Boom to captain (a move that the association would fight against). Billdt is not interested in serving the citizens of San Bernardino. He is really interestd in furthering his own agenda at any cost. If you get in the way, look out!
4. Retired Assistant Chief Wayne Harp (a good friend of Billdt's) is now the departments jail commander. Did he view any booking logs that revealed that some people were put "on ice"? If so, did he share that information with Chief Billdt? If not, why isn't he doing his job?
5. Late last year or early this year a police manager was deposed regarding a law suit Lowes has filed against Chief Billdt. The manager was subpeoned by Lowes' attorney and spoke about his knowledge of Boom's problems regarding the case. Do you think Boom was ever investigated or disciplined for this? Not even close!
6. There are a total of three sergeants on administraive leave. Lt. Boom has connection with all three. Why is that? Is it because he is at the heart of the issues and will do anyhting to get promoted? His reputation with other employees is horrendous! He along with Captain Kimball bully, intimidate and literally ruin the lives of the men and women of the San Bernardino Police Department (and chief Billdt whole heartedly supports these leaders).
7. The police association recently revealed that Billdt had asked the association to bring complaints against then Chief Garrett Zimmon to the mayor for disorganization and other reasons. The truth is that Billdt had been covertly pushing members of the association to paint Zimmon in such a negative way that the mayor would feel obligated to remove Zimmon. It worked and Billdt was ultimately appointed to interim chief. Chief Billdt, you know this is true! Too many people have knowledge of this.
Do you realize that Chief Zimmon came from LAPD and trusted his assistant chief (Mike Billdt) with all police and personal matters? While he trusted his 'right hand man' Billdt was doing all he could to defame him to get him removed? That's the character of our chief. Not the type of core values you would expect from a person of great responsibility.
So I ask you. Is this blog sour grapes or does it reveal truth about Billdt, Boom, Kimball, and Lawrence? Can Billdt convince you that all allegations against him and others is because of his commitment to certain values? Don't be gullible; look at the facts.
The police management association recently released a statement supporting Chief Billdt. Don't believe it. Most of them are afraid of him and will do what's needed to keep their jobs. And by the way, Lt. Boom is the president of that organization.
And to those of you (Sergeant Dillon, Lt. Patterson and others) who have publically supported the chief: We know you did it for selfish reasons and you are not telling the truth. For reputation sake, please keep quiet. Remember, you are leaders at the department and you are losing your ability to lead by making statements that you, your subordinates, peers, and supervisors know are not true.
Today, Chief Billdt released a statement through the mayors office that officers have complained for personal reasons and that the chief adhears to certain core values. As most people realize, you can only live a lie for so long. It finally catches up with you. It's your true character. It is who you are. Chief Billdt, we know your real character and now the citizens of our city realize that there are too many allegations against you and some of your staff for them all to be false. You have been found out! Do the right thing and resign (be sure to take your inner circle with you). Chief Zimmon will be proud of you!
It is my hope that our city leaders take swift action and bring in federal investigators to conduct an impartial and objective investigation into these and other allegations (I haven't even mentioned Operation Pheonix allegations and others).
Hey "Anonymous" if your not "Stevie Lowes" yourself? Then your sure one of his side kicks!
Point is Stevie Lowes is complaining about the same tactics he himself has used, to side line or destroy other officer’s careers being used back on him.
It is kind of like having a member of the wolf pack get upset when it becomes his turn to be the next meal, as the wolf pack turns on its own members.
But instead Stevie Lowes is whining and complaining as he tries to paint himself as the martyr in this whole unwinding saga. Kind of hard to be the martyr when you yourself have been the attack dog way to often!
Stevie Lowes needs to follow his own advice and grow up, accept his fate, (punishment) and quite frankly shut up and suck it up or leave the San Bernardino Police Department.
He needs to do this before he causes more shame upon himself and the San Bernardino police Department as a whole!
Dear Chief Billdt cronie:
I am not Steve Lowes nor do I particularily care for the man. I find it interesting that I have laid out a whole host of true allegations that you have failed to rebut. Why? Is it because you are one of the persons mentioned above? Probably! You are in the extreme minority with your position. The collapse of this current administration is within sight. Why don't you retire so that we can develop ethical leaders in our organization in an attempt to overcome the rotten culture you and others have developed here.
Chief Billdt has a saying when embroiled with controversy: "I am confident the truth will prevail." Unfortunately for him and his inner circle the truth will actually expose them for what they are.
Dear Wendy,
Please look carefully into the following bullets addressed in Anonymous' comment:1, 3, 5 and 6. They are all closely related. Don't rest until the truth is revealed. Thank you.
After hearing numerous comments today I think Anonymous LowesAdvocate is the minority. Filson spoke for a minute group at the meeting. Isn't it odd that he would say that then call a membership meeting? Are they going to tell us what we are supposed to be thinking so his statement won't be a total bust?
Robert, what plausible explanation does Billdt have for his reluctance to submit a resume for 2 years? & his resume does not look like much when placed next to Chiefs Bueermann, Scaldone, Miller, KIng, and these all are smaller agencies than Billdt's.
I wonder if the Mitch Kimball is the same Mitch Kimball that has seized and sealed the emails and documents of four Parks and Recreation Official?
Yes that's right they're on ICE.....
No longer respects Billdt:
I first asked for the chief's resume about a year ago. After that, I submitted a formal, written public information request.
I was told I couldn't have it because it didn't exist, and that it didn't exist because the chief hadn't been applying for jobs in a long time (lifelong SBPD). I was also told that there may be an old one, but it was in his personnel file, which is private.
Now, after we applied some pressure and the public backlash has grown over the numerous crises gripping the department, Billdt provided a resume yesterday.
That is clearly a victory for anyone who expects government to be open and public servants to be accountable.
Now the resume is out. It is, I can say objectively, a lot leaner than the resumes of other area chiefs.
The leaders of Redlands, Rialto, Fontana and Colton all hold accredited 4-year degrees, graduate degrees (masters and law), and graduations from command college and/or the FBI's Academy in Quantico, VA.
Chief Billdt, of course, has none of those credentials on his resume.
I'm not saying that these facts show the chief is unfit to lead. I am saying that it is very unusual for a mayor to name someone chief who lacks those basic credentials.
And I'm also saying the public has a right to know what their chief's qualifications are. Because of our work, the public now knows and can decide for themselves if this chief is the right guy for the job.
Thank you for reading and writing,
Robert
Mayor Morris can really pick Department Heads. Not!
"Leadership must have a personal committment to openness so the people they lead can evaluate their leaders' committment to the path of a single standard. There needs to be a matter of principle, not something driven by legal and regulatory requirements. Leaders should take personal responsibility for providing the informationn necessary for ther evaluation of their leadership. MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR OTHERS TO GET INFORMATION IS AN INDIRECT WAY TO MAINTAIN SECRECY" (emphasis added).
The quote is from Keshivan Nair's book "A Higher Standard of Leadership" --required reading at POST's Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute. Billdt attended and made sure SBPD sgts attended. When Kimball attended, he'd skip class regularly to the point where the insructors reported his absenteeism to Chief Dean. How embarrassing.
Robert- Are you able to disclose Billdt's resume in the paper, obviously redacting the usual personal items such at residence address, etc? This is an item for public viewing, right? While you're at it, perhaps you could obtain the resumes of his Capt.s & Lt's also. Don't the citizens have a right to know what kind of leaders Billdt is promoting (choosing)?