A large number of Culver City veterans believe that Asst. Chief Hank Davies, one of three finalists, was overwhelmingly qualified and was “unfairly” eliminated from consideration.
Three members of the City Council voted for Mr. Pedsersen, two for Mr. Davies. Capt. Jacqueline Seabrooks of Santa Monica did not receive any votes.
When Mr. Davies learned last Wednesday morning that he had not been selected as chief, he pledged loyalty, assistance and his twenty-five years of experience to the new chief.
Mr. Pedersen was not available to respond yesterday. He was reported to be undergoing testing that must be completed before his selection becomes finalized.
Even More Intriguing
A second assertion by Culver City veterans about their troubled department packs an even more creeping dose of intrigue.
Besides restless officers, veterans say a second bombshell will be dangling above Mr. Pedersen if he does assume office, as scheduled, on May 8.
Characterizing the Culver City station as a cauldron of hostility and controversy, sources revealed that an explosive, long smouldering back story emerged at the weekend.
It concerns the case of Lt. Harvey Bailey, whose wife was found murdered a little more than thirteen years ago.
Early last Friday morning, around nine o’clock, law enforcement officials, armed with a search warrant, entered the Police Station and scoured Mr. Bailey’s locker, it was reported.
On the same day, two homes in Inglewood —the one where Mr. Bailey lived with his late wife and the condo where he lives with his present wife — also were searched.
“Something very unusual must be going on,” said one insider, “if they can get search warrants for a cold case. When the two detectives were here, they took some binders out of Bailey’s locker.”
According to Police Dept. veterans, the apparent re-opening of the Bailey murder case — Christmas Eve, 1992 — gives them the shivers. They no longer want to be around the victim’s husband.
A spokesperson for the veterans told thefrontpageonline.com that they will seek to have Mr. Bailey at least temporarily relieved of duty.
Numbers of Mr. Bailey’s fellow Culver City officers have expressed unease — ranging from extreme to tolerable — over the years as the case has dragged on, and gone cold, without a resolution.
It is not clear how they divide on their comrade’s innocence or guilt.
