Police Chief Seeks Halt to Hate Mail

San Diego Police Chief William Kolender vowed Friday to use police officers to guard his Del Cerro home if City Atty. John Witt does not seek a court order to halt a stream of hate mail from the father of a 21-year-old man slain by police in May.

“I will take care of the security,” Kolender said, when asked what he would do if Witt rejected his request for legal action. Kolender declined to elaborate, except to say he could get protection for his home through the police force.

Witt said Friday that he did not plan to immediately seek a restraining order against Robert Holden, the father of Wayne Douglas Holden, who was shot six times by police after he led them on an early-morning foot chase through a San Carlos neighborhood and, wielding a 12-inch knife, crashed through the window of a house.

Since shortly after his son’s death, the elder Holden has mailed or delivered about 20 letters and post cards to Kolender’s office and home, including two letters taped to Kolender’s front door after postal service officials ordered Holden to stop sending the missives through the mail.

“My concern was not necessarily the material in the letters, even though it was offensive and sounded very irrational,” Kolender said, explaining his request for legal protection. “He (Holden) or someone close to him obviously is going on to my property. We have found notes two mornings in a row on my front door. I think he’s irrational, and I’m concerned for my family.”

Police Lt. Ken Moller described the letters from Holden as “intimidating.”

“They refer to Chief Kolender as being a coward and a bully and a thug,” he said. “They’re just threatening and intimidating.” He said there was fear that Holden might harm Kolender’s wife and stepdaughter.

Witt was reluctant to talk about the case Friday. He said the issue was complicated by Holden’s filing this week of a $1-million wrongful death claim against the city. He said a restraining order would not be sought Friday, and he added that Kolender’s request would be “handled in context and in a reasonable manner.”

At a press conference in June, Kolender said the officers involved showed “great restraint.”