Sergeant shoots himself on residential street

HILLSIDE — A Burbank Police sergeant who was listed in an FBI probe into police misconduct shot himself to death Thursday morning on the corner of a residential street, authorities said.

Burbank Police Sgt. Neil Thomas Gunn Sr., 50, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the corner of North Sunset Canyon Drive and East Harvard Road, Lt. John Dilibert said.

Police were called to the intersection at about 11:40 a.m. after witnesses reported seeing Gunn turn the gun on himself, Sgt. Thor Merich said. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Officers sectioned off several blocks of Sunset Canyon Drive and surrounding streets, shielding views of the body from the public as detectives investigated the scene.

“This incident is a devastating tragedy,” Dilibert said in a statement. “The members of the Police Department and all our city employees share in the grief with his family during this difficult time.”

A 22-year veteran of the department, Gunn received several commendations for his work, including the Ministerial Officer of the Year in 1992, and two departmental professional esteem awards, one in 1997 and one in 2004.

The U.S. attorney’s office on Sept. 14 issued a grand jury subpoena for personnel records involving 12 members of the Burbank Police Department. The subpoena sought records on “use of force, defensive tactics, Tasers, pepper spray, or the rules and ramifications pertaining to the use of excessive force or a violation of civil/constitutional rights.”

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller earlier this month confirmed that the agency was looking into possible civil rights violations by officers, the results of which would be forwarded to the Department of Justice. She would not specify when the probe began, how long it would last, or expand on why the officers were named in the probe. Several of the officers listed in the probe — Bill Taylor, Omar Rodriguez and Steve Karagiosian — have also filed lawsuits against the Police Department alleging racial discrimination, harassment and on-the-job retaliation.

Residents of the hillside enclave, located below the Castaway Restaurant and DeBell Golf Club, spent the morning outside of their homes calming neighbors who feared they were in danger as detectives confirmed Gunn had shot himself.

Erminio Iacobellis, who lives in the 1000 block of East San Jose Avenue, said he never imagined a high-profile slaying within earshot of his home.

“This doesn’t happen in the city,” Iacobellis said, staring across the police barrier. “Nothing like this happens here.”

The Glendale Police Department is handling the investigation.