Two law enforcement heavyweights set to probe SBPD
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By Robert Rogers
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO -- City leaders began talks Monday with two prominent law enforcement figures about conducting an internal probe into the city's Police Department.
Former Fontana and Rialto Police Chief Frank Scialdone and Cal State San Bernardino criminologist Larry Gaines met Monday with Mayor Pat Morris, Police Chief Michael Billdt and acting City Manager Lori Sassoon.
Gaines said he and Scialdone will be invited back after city leaders have established the scope of their work.
"We have talked with the city about the possibility of looking at some of the processes within the Police Department," Gaines said. "We don't know what, with any precision, we'll be looking at."
Scialdone's name was first brought up as a possible solution to the raging battle between the police union and Billdt last week, when union President Rich Lawhead suggested the current Fontana City Councilman serve as the department's interim chief.
Billdt has been under fire for weeks, often for issues unrelated to his union squabbles In July, he permitted an officer accused by a colleague of illegally detaining residents to continue working for weeks until another allegation was lodged.
Later, another criminology professor accused Billdt of pushing him to disavow quotes he made to the media that questioned Billdt's methods in compiling crime statistics.
Morris also contacted Scialdone last week.
Reached by phone, Scialdone said his involvement could only go as far as investigating internal processes.
"There is no possibility of me being the interim chief of San Bernardino," Scialdone said., declining to elaborate on whether that was his or city leaders' perogative.
Morris has insisted that Billdt will remain in place until his contract expires in March, despite an overwhelming no confidence vote from rank-and-file officers earlier this month.
Morris said Scialdone and Gaines represented a chance to improve union/management relations. Morris said the two represented an excellent consulting team, with Gaines, the chair of CSUSB's criminology department, versed in "macro" issues and Scialdone having decades of practical experience.
"New sets of eyes on these issues are very important," Morris said.
Key issues for Gaines and Scialdone to analyze and make recommendations on involve the union's complaints, namely inconsistent internal investigatory procedures and use of force policies, Morris said.
Morris said he hoped to have a recommendation by the City Council's Oct. 6 meeting.
Morris reiterated his unyielding support for Billdt.
"Our city is well-led by Michael Billdt," Morris said. "These issues we're discussing now would exist whether this distinguished police chief was in office or the next one."
Lawhead disagreed, saying Billdt is inconsistent in disciplinary procedures, rewarding loyalists while punishing those he disfavors. Lawhead also objected to Billdt's participation in the early interview with the team that may be investigating aspects of his own performance.
"We want Scialdone installed as interim chief and a search to start now for a long-term chief," Lawhead said. "It's time for a change and a fresh start."
Billdt disagreed.
"It was a good productive meeting. I'm looking forward to working with Mr. Scialdone and Mr. Gaines and look at best practices," said Police Chief Michael Billdt, who added that Scialdone's and Gaines' work could resolve the current rupture between himself and the police union."
Robert:
I am baffled by the logical inconsistency evident in the musings of our illustrious mayor.
Is it just me...or is everyone under his thumb the most excellent employee/leader/blah blah blah. You would think that with so much excellence abounding in San Bernardino, that we wouldn't have the rampant out of control problems we currently have in this city.
If Pat Morris was a major league baseball manager, he would be 10 games out of first place and making vacation arrangements for October, while telling anyone and everyone who will listen that he has the leagues best pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, right fielder, center fielder, left fielder...yada yada yada.
Moreover, I have heard rumblings that Gaines has a preexisting relationship or had previous business arrangements with the SBPD. I am not exactly sure that Gaines doesn't already have too cozy of a relationship with Chief Billdt.
And finally...the hypocrisy of this mayor knows know bounds. When it comes to this issue surrounding Billdt, the Mayor proposes an external audit to delay the wielding of the executioner's axe upon his lap dog, Chief Billdt.
When it comes to the subpoenas, Mayor Morris wants an internal investigation to cover up the cover up into the Operation Phoenix investigation.
Funny...that is why the Mayor and Chief get along so well. They are so capricious in their use or call for internal and external investigations.
And who can forget the Dorjils, when the Mayor went into the audience like Benny Hinn or some other shyster evangelist looking to lay hands upon the masses and promised a mother that he would launch a thorough investigation. That investigation lapsed after a year of inaction.
Or, what about when Mayor Morris lied to the media when confronted by the contradictions in the statements to the District Attorney by Glenn Baude and Fred Wilson? Remember when Mayor Morris said he would "drill down" and get to the bottom of this inconsistency? I am still waiting.
Why would Scaildone want to come over at this point? The Mayor is setting him up for failure by adding his loyal friend and supporter Gaines to the mix. Gaines just made disparaging remarks about the POA in an article related to crime stats and Tibbets within the last week.
Just leave Billdt in place with no outsider Mayor. You're not genuine about trying to solve the problem. How do you expect to ever earn the respect and trust of the police officers when you do stuff like this. Shouldn't that be one of your goals?
"Our city is well-led by Michael Billdt," Morris said. "These issues we're discussing now would exist whether this distinguished police chief was in office or the next one."
Are you "F'n" kidding me???!!!
"Morris the Enabler" strikes again!!! If he didn't screw this city up enough with all the chances he gave criminals asa Judge, he's going to let the Chief continue to run a once highly esteemed Department into the ground.
Holy cow, what's he going to do next, strike Van Rossum's conviction and bring him back to run a Prostitute intervention program???!!!
This Mayor has lost it!!!
"Our city is well-led by Michael Billdt," Morris said. "These issues we're discussing now would exist whether this distinguished police chief was in office or the next one."
Are you "F'n" kidding me???!!!
"Morris the Enabler" strikes again!!! If he didn't screw this city up enough with all the chances he gave criminals asa Judge, he's going to let the Chief continue to run a once highly esteemed Department into the ground.
Holy cow, what's he going to do next, strike Van Rossum's conviction and bring him back to run a Prostitute intervention program???!!!
This Mayor has lost it!!!
MAYOR MORRIS SAID: "These issues we're discussing now would exist whether this distinguished police chief was in office or the next one."
So if I'm to understand the Mayor, he will seek to hire another Chief that will knowingly involve himself in practices involving inconsistent investigative procedures, violate the law, intimidate the officers that put their lives on the line on a daily basis for this city, lie to his boss, and cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in lawsuits filed by his own employees that you the taxpayers must pay.
I take it the Mayor would entrust the next Phoenix Center to be run by someone of the caliber of the notorious John Wayne Gacy!
Scialdone would be a fool to jump into this mess. This is nothing but a political stunt by the Mayor.
Where is the public outrage? I know many people have to be able to connect the dots or add something as simple as two plus two.
I have been hammering the Council chambers with my tax payer view of what I see as an outsider regarding the Mayor's Operation Phoenix sham and wasted spending for two years.
It seems that everyone always speaks about this Op/Pho
as if it is the best thing since sliced bread. Is the City that misinformed about criminal activity? I don't have to read it in the paper(not that it is all reported) because it is all around our neighborhoods. I participate in three NWatch groups above Highland and there is no relief. It starts with taggers and goes into murders(Highland & Arrowhead) along with everything else in between.
The only one to ever question or raise a concern about this is Wendy McCammack. All the others seem to circle the wagons around the Mayor and his people.
With 60 some percent having inhaled the ether this man doles out, how can one think he would do anything but what a snake oil salesman would do, lie to everyone. Don't forget this is the man who let drug dealer after drug dealer out of his court room proclaiming them healed because he believed their lies. The dilemna is that the voters do not want to believe they voted in the wrong guy. Let's just hope they don't make the same mistake twice, but if he helped even one of their family members evade jail in exchange for drug court, those owed favors will be called in for as long as his honor wants them. So much for the democratic process. How much longer will the public stand for the dishonesty and lack of transparency.
Hey Joseph Turner you should know that Richard Lawhead led the attack on the Dorjils, head of the union. That is why it lapsed after a year if you want to look at someone look at the union president.
Oh forgot Joseph you are friends with Lawhead and work for him. To one of your other issues you don't remember the Fred Wilson I misspoke statement. He lied then headed for Huntington beach and used admin leave and an order not to speak to cover his departure.
Good job Mayor. Bring your loyal supporter in to add objective analysis. This should settle the problem in no time flat.
WOW...although not suprised I am a little shocked that this lame duck mayor can throw his support behind this retaliating, do nothing chief and still remain in office. People of San Bernardino please wake up and take your city back. I am confident the POA (led by Rich Lawhead) will continue the charge against Chief Billdt until he is replaced. Mayor Morris has the nerve to ask Chief Billdt to attend the meeting with Scialdone and Gaines, as he attempts to sell this to the public as an impartial independant look into the practices at the police department.....give me a break. Mayor you are fooling no one and you may want to pack your bags along with Chief Billdt. You have choosen to ingore police officers and civilian employees who registered an overwelming message and vote of no confidence against this chief. Mayor, this battle will rage between the police department and the city until you grow a set and remove this Chief. We will continue the fight for the police officers, civilian employees and the citizens of this city.
To the citizens of San Bernardino; your police officers are dedicated to providing you with a safe environment for you to raise your families. Please contact your councilman or councilwoman and voice your support for your officers. Demand this mayor remove Chief Billdt so we can get back to focusing on fighting crime insted of fighting eachother within the department. Mayor Morris has choosen the remaining 6 months of Chief Billdt's contract over the police officers who patrol this city. What a shame. I guess we should have expected nothing less from a mayor who keeps feeding money into a failing Phoneix program, at the costs to the tax payers, and who as a judge would sing happy birthday to criminals just before reducing their sentences so they could be released to commit more crimes against our citizens. Mayor Morris you are an absolute embarrassment.
What does a "teacher" know about running a police department? That's like sending a Police Chief who lacks an accreditted degree to Cal State San Bernardino to head the Criminal Justice Division.
The issues that they are going to have this "teacher" come look at doesn't even touch the surface of the corruption within the Mayor Morris condoned Police Administration.
Councilpeople, a consent decree will not be cheap for the city. Certain mandates that could be imposed are not open for discussion, and will be costly for a cash strapped city. Try explaining that to the taxpayers, and why you failed to protect the city from that liability. I don't think they are going to want to hear, "Well, we were concerned about the Chief's dignity."
Start thinking about what your copsare reporting and how the Mayor is responding to their claims. It doesn't make sense!
Speaking for myself and myself alone, it seems to me that the only way we are going to get real reform in this town is if we do the following:
1. Get rid of the ward system, and
2. Either make the police chief an elected position or give the hiring and firing authority of the chief exclusively to the members of the Council.
Speaking for myself and myself alone, it seems to me that the only way we are going to get real reform in this town is if we do the following:
1. Get rid of the ward system, and
2. Either make the police chief an elected position or give the hiring and firing authority of the chief exclusively to the members of the Council.
Speaking for myself and myself alone, it seems to me that the only way we are going to get real reform in this town is if we do the following:
1. Get rid of the ward system, and
2. Either make the police chief an elected position or give the hiring and firing authority of the chief exclusively to the members of the Council.
I don't think I've seen this level of arrogance ever in city politics. Were does the police union get the nerve to think they can demand the removal of a chief, who as far as I know has committed no crime. It sounds as if he has made some unpopular decisions but is this all it takes to send POLICE OFFICERS off the deep end. I wonder if they realize that most citizens look at the complaining, then see how much they are paid and wonder what they are complaining about.Its sickening to constantly see them crying in the newspaper that this person must go and that person needs to be fired. Jeez if its so bad then quit and go somewhere else.
I think the police union needs to take a good look at their leaders and ask, Is this the kind of representation I want? I personally think they are drunk with power.
I don't think I've seen this level of arrogance ever in city politics. Were does the police union get the nerve to think they can demand the removal of a chief, who as far as I know has committed no crime. It sounds as if he has made some unpopular decisions but is this all it takes to send POLICE OFFICERS off the deep end. I wonder if they realize that most citizens look at the complaining, then see how much they are paid and wonder what they are complaining about.Its sickening to constantly see them crying in the newspaper that this person must go and that person needs to be fired. Jeez if its so bad then quit and go somewhere else.
I think the police union needs to take a good look at their leaders and ask, Is this the kind of representation I want? I personally think they are drunk with power.
Thanks for the post Lt. "not so new" Boom! Nice to see that you're taking dictation from Kimball.
Sorry, with all respect to these individuals I look at this effort with doubt and distrust. These men I would bet crossed paths with Judge Morris at one time or another and I just can not trust the long-term influence he maintains with the law enforcement community in SB County. I feel to get an open reveling investigation of the SB P/D, those performing the review MUST come from out of reach of Judge Morris’ professional relationships. It is a nice thought, but suspect at best from the start.