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SAN BERNARDINO - Police Chief Michael Billdt said he plans to stay at his post and attempt to resolve the divide between himself and rank-and-file officers who delivered a landslide vote in condemnation of his leadership.
"I'm committed to this town. I'm committed to this department," Billdt said in a telephone interview Friday.
"My plan is to stay the course," he added later.
Billdt spoke the morning after 135 of 178 sworn officers at a police union meeting cast votes of "no confidence" in his leadership.
Police union President Rich Lawhead called the vote "overwhelming."
Lawhead all but called for the chief's ouster in a news release, citing allegations of favoritism, inconsistent disciplinary measures, retaliation and ruling through "fear and intimidation."
"It is time for the mayor to decide if he will continue to protect his political appointment, Chief Billdt, or put the community first and restore effective leadership ... ," Lawhead wrote in a statement.
Mayor Pat Morris still supports the chief. Morris said the union's vote captures officers' views during a "snapshot in time" but does not signal an unbridgeable gap between Billdt and the city's cops.
"Tensions between management and labor rise and fall," Morris said. "These are moments of great tension."
Morris went on to say that regular meetings and conversations between police administrators and union leadership could resolve the present dispute. He also voiced his disapproval of high-stakes tactics.
"What you don't do is throw down the gauntlet and issue ultimatums," Morris said.
Morris and Billdt pointed to recent correspondence between the chief and Lawhead to show they had a working relationship as recently as mid-August.
In those letters, the parties refer to discussions on use of force reporting, internal affairs investigations and investigations of alleged criminal misconduct on the part of police officers.
But the interdepartmental dust-up has gone very public.
Sgt. Steve Filson, a former police union president, addressed the City Council on Tuesday and leveled at Billdt a number of accusations, including conspiring to "scuttle" former Chief Garrett Zimmon and creating paranoia within the ranks.
"I think that's something that Steve and I can talk about," the chief said.
Police union attorney Dieter Dammeier said policy differences are not the issue. It's the sense that Billdt has one standard for loyal officers and metes out discipline to those who cross him.
"The reality is it's been going on since Billdt's been here, and it's ballooned and ballooned," Dammeier said.
Billdt and the Police Department have for weeks fended off challenges that go beyond union politics.
Also on Tuesday, the council balked at Billdt's proposals to continue funding the department's helicopter contract and to promote Lt. Brian Boom to captain.
Billdt provided his resume Wednesday to the public for the first time in more than two years. It revealed that unlike other area chiefs, Billdt does not hold a degree from an accredited college.
The chief says he also is cooperating with a Department of Industrial Relations probe into a retired officer's allegations that Billdt launched baseless investigations into the officer's conduct.
That officer, former Lt. Don Soderbloom, alleges he faced retaliation for voicing concern when Billdt and Assistant Chief Frank Mankin initially refused to pay a local restaurant the amount contracted for a banquet.
Allegations also have been lodged by other officers against Sgt. Bradley Lawrence for allegedly detaining people illegally, allegations that were not acted on until another officer lodged complaints weeks later. A department booking log dated September 2007 shows a man being held in the department's jail without charge - "on ice."
Officers also have alleged that political considerations thwarted initial investigations into explicit photos taken by accused child molester Mike Miller, a former Operation Phoenix center manager, whose arrest rocked Morris' Operation Phoenix anti-crime program in July.
Seventh Ward Councilwoman Wendy McCammack said the police union vote proves the mayor's office was wrong in earlier assessments that dissent had come from a small but vocal minority of malcontents.
"The public position of the administration has been that this is a few disgruntled employees," McCammack said. "The 76 percent isn't just a few."
http://www.sbsun.com/sanbernardino/ci_10395009
"I'm committed to this town. I'm committed to this department," Billdt said in a telephone interview Friday.
"My plan is to stay the course," he added later.
Billdt spoke the morning after 135 of 178 sworn officers at a police union meeting cast votes of "no confidence" in his leadership.
Police union President Rich Lawhead called the vote "overwhelming."
Lawhead all but called for the chief's ouster in a news release, citing allegations of favoritism, inconsistent disciplinary measures, retaliation and ruling through "fear and intimidation."
"It is time for the mayor to decide if he will continue to protect his political appointment, Chief Billdt, or put the community first and restore effective leadership ... ," Lawhead wrote in a statement.
Mayor Pat Morris still supports the chief. Morris said the union's vote captures officers' views during a "snapshot in time" but does not signal an unbridgeable gap between Billdt and the city's cops.
"Tensions between management and labor rise and fall," Morris said. "These are moments of great tension."
Morris went on to say that regular meetings and conversations between police administrators and union leadership could resolve the present dispute. He also voiced his disapproval of high-stakes tactics.
"What you don't do is throw down the gauntlet and issue ultimatums," Morris said.
Morris and Billdt pointed to recent correspondence between the chief and Lawhead to show they had a working relationship as recently as mid-August.
In those letters, the parties refer to discussions on use of force reporting, internal affairs investigations and investigations of alleged criminal misconduct on the part of police officers.
But the interdepartmental dust-up has gone very public.
Sgt. Steve Filson, a former police union president, addressed the City Council on Tuesday and leveled at Billdt a number of accusations, including conspiring to "scuttle" former Chief Garrett Zimmon and creating paranoia within the ranks.
"I think that's something that Steve and I can talk about," the chief said.
Police union attorney Dieter Dammeier said policy differences are not the issue. It's the sense that Billdt has one standard for loyal officers and metes out discipline to those who cross him.
"The reality is it's been going on since Billdt's been here, and it's ballooned and ballooned," Dammeier said.
Billdt and the Police Department have for weeks fended off challenges that go beyond union politics.
Also on Tuesday, the council balked at Billdt's proposals to continue funding the department's helicopter contract and to promote Lt. Brian Boom to captain.
Billdt provided his resume Wednesday to the public for the first time in more than two years. It revealed that unlike other area chiefs, Billdt does not hold a degree from an accredited college.
The chief says he also is cooperating with a Department of Industrial Relations probe into a retired officer's allegations that Billdt launched baseless investigations into the officer's conduct.
That officer, former Lt. Don Soderbloom, alleges he faced retaliation for voicing concern when Billdt and Assistant Chief Frank Mankin initially refused to pay a local restaurant the amount contracted for a banquet.
Allegations also have been lodged by other officers against Sgt. Bradley Lawrence for allegedly detaining people illegally, allegations that were not acted on until another officer lodged complaints weeks later. A department booking log dated September 2007 shows a man being held in the department's jail without charge - "on ice."
Officers also have alleged that political considerations thwarted initial investigations into explicit photos taken by accused child molester Mike Miller, a former Operation Phoenix center manager, whose arrest rocked Morris' Operation Phoenix anti-crime program in July.
Seventh Ward Councilwoman Wendy McCammack said the police union vote proves the mayor's office was wrong in earlier assessments that dissent had come from a small but vocal minority of malcontents.
"The public position of the administration has been that this is a few disgruntled employees," McCammack said. "The 76 percent isn't just a few."
http://www.sbsun.com/sanbernardino/ci_10395009
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Yeah, all in all, it was good. 
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