Police demotions

22 SB ranking officers served demotion notices

With future in limbo, officers slap police chief
Stacia Glenn and Andrew Edwards, Staff Writers
Posted: 02/10/2009 09:49:44 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO - Twenty-two ranking police officers received notice Tuesday that they must choose between demotion or unemployment.
The letters were authorized by the Feb. 2 City Council vote to issue pink slips to city employees. San Bernardino faces a projected $9 million deficit.

On Tuesday night, the city's Police Officers Association passed a second vote of no confidence against Chief Michael Billdt, following a no-confidence vote in September.

The 190 association members who voted, also passed a vote of no confidence in Assistant Chief Mitch Kimball, Capt. Theodis Hensen and Lt. Brian Boom.

Interim City Manager Mark Weinberg explained the new letters are the product of the "bumping" process.

Civil service employees with bumping rights can dodge layoffs by accepting demotions, and then lower-ranking employees face layoffs.

San Bernardino officials are considering the elimination of 130 or more jobs across most city departments. The council has not given final approval to layoffs, which can be rescinded.

"It's unpleasant. It's unsettling. We feel terrible about it," Weinberg said.

The council's next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.

The Police Department employs 46 sergeants and 47 detectives. On Tuesday, seven sergeants and 15 detectives received notice that they will go down a rank or leave the force.

Police Officers' Association Vice President Travis Walker, himself a detective, said that eight of those detectives have been assigned 197 cases combined since Jan. 1.

"It's sad to see public safety affected in such a manner," Walker said.

Civil Services employees prepared a standard letter for all department heads to issue to "notice the impacted employees," Billdt said.

The ranking officers have 10 working days to tell the city whether they accept the demotion. If they do not, they are laid off as of March 13 and placed on a re-employment list for two years.

Sergeants and detectives who are bumped down can be re-promoted if a position opens within the next two years.

The potential police layoffs are part of a proposed budget-cut package that could also result in heavy layoffs for the Fire Department, the gutting of the city's parks maintenance staffing, library branch closures and other difficult cuts.

But 7th Ward Councilwoman Wendy McCammack asserts that police layoffs can be avoided if the city would more aggressively pursue fines and other revenues.

"You'll see how many council members truly believe that public safety is a priority," she said.