San Bernardino police chief's bid to name new captain questioned

10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, October 4, 2008

By CHRIS RICHARD
The Press-Enterprise

Two San Bernardino City Council members are questioning Police Chief Mike Billdt's bid to name a new police captain, part of a department-restructuring plan that the council approved last summer.

The council will take up the question at Monday's meeting.

City Council members approved the restructuring, which consolidates patrol areas and creates a fourth captain's position, in July. But on Sept. 2, council members tabled action on Billdt's nominee for the position, Lt. Brian Boom, after Councilwoman Wendy McCammack voiced concerns about Boom's leadership in his current assignment.

Boom supervises Sgt. Brad Lawrence, a narcotics squad supervisor accused by another sergeant in July of arresting suspects without probable cause. Lawrence was placed on administrative leave six weeks later, after unrelated allegations that he also supervised an improper narcotics search.

"I have some more information to gather before I make my decision," McCammack said. "I'm going to be sure, with all of the accusations that have been flying, to review high-level promotions much more carefully than I have in the past."

Boom could not be reached for comment.

Councilman Rikke Van Johnson said he's not prepared to endorse any new top-level managers.

"Since we've got all this upheaval in the Police Department, I wouldn't want to promote anyone until we get a new chief in there," Johnson said.

Last month, police union members approved a no-confidence resolution against the chief by a 3-to-1 margin. Union leaders accuse Billdt of taking too long to investigate citizen complaints, failing to follow a consistent policy on investigations when officers are accused of crimes and showing bias in non-criminal personnel investigations.

Councilman Tobin Brinker noted that the union also has opposed Boom's promotion.

"Obviously, I'll take the union's position into account," Brinker said. "But if you're going to override a promotion recommendation from a manager, you'd better have a very good reason for doing that, because essentially you'd be saying to your manager, 'I don't trust your decision.' "

Union President Rich Lawhead questioned Brinker's description of a particular focus on Boom.

"It's not necessarily Boom," he said. "We don't want the chief to make any more management changes in the department that will be here after he's long gone. We don't need any more of that kind of management."

Billdt said he plans to move forward with the promotion as scheduled.

Reach Chris Richard at 909-806-3076 or crichard@PE.com