Re “Would the Police Union Actually Picket the Homes of the Council Members?”
Regarding your story yesterday about the Police Officers Assn. trying to get the City Council to fire Police Chief Don Pedersen:
I don’t think it is so outrageous, as the story implies, for the Police Offers Assn. at least to consider picketing the homes of the five City Council members.
When contract negotiations with the city went sour in 1983, we picketed the homes of City Council members, and at the corner of Culver Boulevard and Overland, where the Vets Auditorium is.
Why not? Council members are elected officials, and their homes are a matter of public record.
“One crucial glitch in their dump campaign is that they are without a wedge issue against the chief. The union’s central objection to Mr. Pedersen is they don’t like his style, which falls considerably shy of an actionable offense.”
For his own reasons, Mr. Pedersen has chosen to look the other way in the areas of corruption and time-off abuses committed by members of his management staff.
At the same time, other employees have been disciplined for these same actions. I do not believe these actions fall shy of an actionable offense.
The story also said:
“Only the City Council can oust the Police Chief, and, last heard from, they were a solid 5 to 0 to retain him with enthusiasm. That was what Mayor Chris Armenta announced at the latest Council meeting last week.”
I can’t believe that the City Council voted 5 to 0 against the Police Officers Assn., and they are siding with the Chief without discussion.
Where are all of the City Council members who sought and received political endorsements from the POA?
When they received the endorsement from the POA, their unwavering gratitude and support for the police officers of the city was quoted in numerous articles in thefrontpageonline.com
I guess unwavering support means only to the extent that you don’t question the Chief.
Also, I guess the police association wishes they could go back and endorse Robert Zirgulis for City Council. They probably would have been better off.
Mr. Smith, a retired Culver City police officer, maybe contacted at scsinternationalinvestigations@sbcglobal.net
