A San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy is faceing several charges connected to a big rig fire last week. Richard Heverly, 41, of La Verne, is charg

In a four-hour, closed-door meeting with elected city officials Tuesday, San Bernardino police union leaders presented a detailed list of grievances against Chief Mike Billdt and demanded the chief's ouster, participants said.

Union leaders also requested an independent review of the Police Department's senior executives and management practices, participants said.

Billdt could not be reached to comment.

In a 3¼-page memo, union leaders accuse the chief of taking too long to investigate citizen complaints against officers and of failure to follow a consistent policy on investigations when officers are accused of crimes.

The memo also accuses Billdt of reneging on a 2-year-old vow to distinguish routine record-keeping for the appropriate use of force from the sort of detailed investigation required when officers are accused of using force improperly or illegally.

Rank-and-file officers recently passed a no-confidence resolution against Billdt.

"What I told the council is, the chief is outside. We've closed the door," union President Rich Lawhead said. "We don't want him to come back in. We don't want a 'Kumbaya' talk. We're done. We've done everything we can to negotiate with this guy. We're done."

Lawhead said the union wants Billdt removed, and an interim chief brought in, with an audit of Police Department and management practices.

Councilwoman Wendy McCammack, one of four council members who attended Tuesday's meeting, said she supports an audit.

"Something's going to have to change," she said. "You can't have that many employees in any government agency as unhappy as (police officers) claim to be and not do something."

Mayor Pat Morris said he also may support an external review. "These are labor-management issues that need to be addressed, and we need a search for best practices. Perhaps an outside expert can assist us," Morris said.

Any such review also must consider the need for police officers to be accountable to the public, Morris said.

Lawhead said union members also are concerned about the length of time Billdt's administration takes to conclude investigations of citizen accusations against officers.

When such complaints go unresolved, the department jeopardizes its ability to chastise erring officers and leaves a taint of suspicion on officers who acted properly, he said.