Excessive Force

Josh Goldstein BURBANK VILLAGE -- A Burbank Police officer charged with excessive force for allegedly assaulting a transient will turn himself in to authorities later this week, officials said. Following a two-month investigation by the Burbank Police Department, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office on Monday filed two felony counts against Burbank Police Officer Daniel L. Shaw, 39, for using excessive force against Michael Vaughn, 47, a transient.

The FBI investigation into the Burbank Police Department is focusing on allegations of excessive force by officers, court documents obtained by The Times show. Federal investigators have told the Burbank officials to turn over reports involving 12 current and former officers, according to a federal grand jury subpoena obtained by The Times. The subpoena specifies information related to "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."

CITY CENTER — A Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigation into an alleged assault by a member of the Burbank Police Department will be turned over to county prosecutors by month’s end, authorities said Friday. The county sheriff’s probe was initiated by Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr in April, spokesman Steve Whitmore said. News of the probe comes after court documents revealed that the FBI investigation into the department has zeroed in on allegations of excessive force by officers.

A former police officer who filed a federal wrongful termination lawsuit against the city last month is dismissing the case for procedural reasons. Separate from the lawsuit filed in March , Elfego Rodriguez in December asked the court to reverse the city's decision to uphold his termination, which was a result of his internal administrative appeal. He will wait until a decision is made on the December request - through which he is seeking attorney fees, back pay and benefits - to move forward with the wrongful termination lawsuit, said his attorney, Solomon Gresen.

Kudos to Burbank Police Chief Thomas Hoefel and our Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley insofar as prosecuting Burbank Police Officer Daniel Shaw. As once was the norm, excessive force and falsified reports were allegedly whitewashed by management. Former Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti was also derelict in filing on rogue cops. Fortunately, the chief inclusive of the district attorney's new integrity division conducted a just investigation, not a sham, and those personnel of all police departments throughout the county that lie, falsify reports, embellish, utilize excessive force or disregard probable cause will be dealt with.

Lolita Harper CIVIC CENTER -- The alleged beating of a transient by a Burbank police officer has been captured on a jail surveillance camera, but the videotape is not being released as a public record due to the pending criminal case, officials said. Burbank Police Officer Daniel Shaw, 40, of Burbank, is accused of using excessive force against 47-year-old Burbank transient Michael Vaughn on Jan. 19, first while attempting to take him into custody and then later at the Burbank City Jail, police said.

Lolita Harper LOS ANGELES -- One-third of the weight that former Burbank police officer Daniel Shaw had been carrying on his shoulders was lifted Wednesday morning when a judge dismissed one of three felony counts against him. Shaw, 40, faced two counts of using excessive force and one count of filing a false police report after allegedly beating a Burbank transient Jan. 19. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael...

Lolita Harper CIVIC CENTER -- The Burbank Police Department has been selective in providing information about the alleged use of excessive force by one of their own, a former officer with the LAPD's Rampart Division. Of 267 pages in the case file for Officer Daniel Shaw, 258 pages -- documents that tell the story through the eyes of the victim and witnesses -- have been removed and sealed to the public. Burbank Police Lt. Bill Stehr, the officer assigned to investigate charges against Shaw that include two counts of excessive force and one count of filing a false police report, obtained information from several people who reportedly have knowledge about the alleged beating.

It's hard to believe that in this virtuous town we have a problem with the police force (“Judge dismisses lawsuit,” Dec. 7). Is that possible? My first thought when I see a police officer is to ask if help is necessary. Of course they are there to admonish you if your seat belts are not being put to good use and make sure you're not illegally using a cell phone. But there are other issues that we as ordinary people are not aware of, such as the relationships among police officers where race or ethnic background plays a part, or where excessive force against suspects could be a problem.

A former police officer who filed a federal wrongful termination lawsuit against the city last month is dismissing the case for procedural reasons. Separate from the lawsuit filed in March , Elfego Rodriguez in December asked the court to reverse the city's decision to uphold his termination, which was a result of his internal administrative appeal. He will wait until a decision is made on the December request - through which he is seeking attorney fees, back pay and benefits - to move forward with the wrongful termination lawsuit, said his attorney, Solomon Gresen.

Cleaning up a mess left behind by predecessor is difficult under any circumstances, but it's especially challenging when members of the department you're overseeing don't always have your back. The city's new police chief, Scott LaChasse, held in limbo as interim chief for the past three years, has performed admirably, despite naysayers within the Burbank Police Officers Assn. LaChasse, who previously enjoyed a 30-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department, was recruited in January 2010 to help stabilize the Burbank force, disgraced by allegations of excessive force, discrimination and sexual harassment.

Scott LaChasse's “three-year job interview” has come to an end. Burbank's interim police chief - brought to the helm three years ago of a department plagued by allegations of excessive force, discrimination and sexual harassment - was made permanent, effective immediately, officials announced Wednesday. LaChasse on Wednesday said he was “delighted” with the offer, adding that the new title legitimizes the position and will allow him to continue - and finish - what he came to do. When he started, LaChasse was charged with stabilizing the culture of the department, which according to a police-commissioned 2010 report, was beset by a “mutual disrespect and distrust” among personnel.

Good morning, readers. Today is Monday, August 20. Free parking at the NoHo Commons in North Hollywood is now a thing of the past. Beginning today, visitors to the NoHo Commons retail center will have to pay $1.50 to park for fifteen minutes or $15 dollars for the entire day. Patch The start of construction on Burbank's proposed Walmart could be in jeopardy after a judge hinted at launching a review on the retailer's impact on...

It's hard to believe that in this virtuous town we have a problem with the police force (“Judge dismisses lawsuit,” Dec. 7). Is that possible? My first thought when I see a police officer is to ask if help is necessary. Of course they are there to admonish you if your seat belts are not being put to good use and make sure you're not illegally using a cell phone. But there are other issues that we as ordinary people are not aware of, such as the relationships among police officers where race or ethnic background plays a part, or where excessive force against suspects could be a problem.

City officials are recommending that the City Council hire two outside consultants to ensure that the Burbank Police Department emerges from officer misconduct investigations on solid footing. In his report to the Police Commission and City Council, which are scheduled to hold a joint meeting today, City Manager Mike Flad recommends hiring consultants Mike Gennaco and Robert Corbin for three years to oversee the implementation of the department's 2011 Strategic Plan to “ensure [the department's]

A federal judge who was scheduled to make a final decision Thursday in a case involving a former Burbank police officer's claims of discrimination and retaliatory firing instead put the matter on hold until Dec. 5. Last week, U.S. District Court Judge George Wu issued a tentative ruling dismissing former Burbank police officer Elfego Rodriguez's lawsuit against the city. In doing so, the judge agreed with city attorneys that Rodriguez first needed to allow the termination appeals process to run its course before suing.

CITY HALL ? Burbank officials are in the process of hiring the chief oversight attorney for the Los Angeles County Sheriff?s Department to review two officer-involved shootings and the recent suicide of a man at the Burbank Police Jail. The contract is expected to be finalized this week for Michael Gennaco, chief attorney in the sheriff?s Office of Independent Review, although details of the contract were not available Tuesday. Gennaco and another police expert will also evaluate broader-picture policies, such as the use of Tasers and deadly force, City Manager Mike Flad said.

CITY HALL — Burbank officials have spent more than $1 million since May on litigation related to the ongoing investigations and lawsuits against the Police Department, and taxpayers will likely be on the hook for even more as the cases move through the courts, according to a memo to the City Council. The latest tab comes as the city prepares to discipline and possibly fire 10 officers for various allegations of misconduct ranging from excessive use of force to neglect of duty and lying.