Perhaps the long-awaited breakthrough has erupted in the nearly11-month stalemate between the rebelling police union and the chief of the Culver City Police Dept.
In a slender, meticulously sculpted 235-word message dispatched last week to all 150-plus members of the department, the dozen upper-ranking officers of the Management Group — choosing plain but refined language — rebuked the revolutionaries in the Police Officers Assn. who have been trying to make Chief Don Pedersen’s life miserable, scratchy and itchy.
Certain members of the police union, especially the five-person board, have risen up in front of the community with increasing boldness, fairly openly since last December, to protest Mr. Pedersen’s style of leadership. However, the response from Culver City residents has been yawn-stifling because the complaints they have publicly proclaimed have been received as intensely personal gripes, covering discipline and frustrations over not being promoted, according to sources inside and outside of the department.
Even more significantly, the upper level officers summoned their brethren to a meeting this afternoon that was intended to tamp down the daily rebellion and restore more professional, pre-revolution behavior.
What impressed some recipients was that all members of the Management Group, in a demonstration of solidarity, signed the message (which is reprinted below).
Other veteran officers viewed the message as a case of Big Brother telling Little Bro to knock it off and start behaving like a gentleman.
Lt. Mike Shank, one of the signers from the Management Group, told the newspaper this afternoon that “our concern, my concern, is the welfare of the department. But I don’t want to get into any discussion that is going to get into the media. I just want us to continue to carry out our duties for the department and serve the community.”
The message:
“Members of the Management Group are concerned about the atmosphere and rancor within the department. While we understand people in groups have different opinions and perspectives on issues, it is our belief that although the Police Dept., as an organization, is dependent upon issues and concerns being handled with humility and professionalism, should employees or groups find their issues unresolved within the organization, airing of these matters in a public forum is rarely productive.
“It is the position of the Police Management Group that all information released and published is factual, accurate and should be obtained and disseminated in conformance with department policy.
“In order for this organization to continue with the historical success it has built with an admirable reputation, we believe it is imperative that the structure of the organization and the authority of the Chief of Police be recognized, respected and adhered to.
“The interests of a singular group or individual cannot be placed ahead of the health and success of the Culver City Police Dept. We believe the organization is paramount, and we recognize that it is contributions and hard work by members of the department that make the Culver City Police Dept. a unique and proud agency. Through cooperation and mutual respect, we are optimistic we will move forward and continue to provide the citizens of Culver City the outstanding service they have come to know and expect and deliver.”
