South Pasadena : 2 Civilians Turn In Their Police Badges

Two civilians voluntarily turned in police badges last week in the wake of an investigation to determine whether Police Chief Samuel L. Buntyn had issued badges and identification to citizens who were not adequately trained to be reserve officers, Acting Police Chief Bill Reese said.

Reese said one of the men also submitted a department identification card describing him as member of the Technical Group. Both indicated they had received the credentials from Buntyn and considered their positions honorary, said Reese, who would not identify either man.

Reese said he launched the inquiry recently when he discovered that Buntyn had given a department identification card and a police badge to newspaper publisher Bill Erickson and that Erickson had displayed the badge and identified himself as a police officer after pulling a gun during a July 8 incident in Pasadena. Erickson’s badge and identification were suspended.

Erickson has said he was sworn in as a police officer by Buntyn and his claim has been corroborated by retired Lt. Lee Hatfield. Buntyn has acknowledged that he had appointed Erickson to a technical reserve group as a public information officer, but has said he could not remember whether he swore in Erickson. No record of of Erickson’s oath could be found at City Hall.

Buntyn has been on medical leave since being asked to resign in June. Reese is running the department pending the outcome of the city’s attempt to fire Buntyn, who faces 10 charges, including allegations that he tried to tamper with a police review board and sexually harassed a female subordinate. Buntyn has requested a hearing, but neither he nor city officials would say when or if the session has been scheduled.