S. Pasadena Fires Chief of Police, Names Reese

Samuel L. Buntyn has been fired as police chief after fighting for six months to keep his job amid charges that included insubordination and sexual harassment of an employee.

City Manager John Bernardi made the announcement last week after the City Council met in a closed session and unanimously approved the appointment of acting Police Chief William Reese as Buntyn’s permanent replacement.

Bernardi said in an interview that he had informed Buntyn by letter that Dec. 13 was to be his last day on the job. Buntyn had been on medical leave since June, when the City Council voted unanimously to ask him to resign.

Bernardi would not disclose details of the letter’s contents, but an earlier letter he sent to Buntyn last August included allegations that the former chief sexually harassed a female subordinate, attempted to interfere with a promotion review board and kept secret files on city officials.

Letter Contained Charges

The first letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Times, also alleged that Buntyn had falsified time sheets, purchased equipment without authorization, failed to respond to citizen complaints, failed to follow personnel rules and failed to address or progress toward goals set by the council.

The letter also charged Buntyn with insubordination, contending that he had exhibited “arrogant behavior” toward the City Council in a public meeting and failed to respond to direct orders. The copy of the letter obtained by The Times contained references to documentation of the charges, but it was not attached.

Buntyn’s attorney, Richard Shinee, said that the latest letter included the same charges and added, “We categorically deny that the charges leveled against him have merit. These are unsubstantiated conclusionary allegations and the city has not provided us with supporting documentation.

“It is our contention that Sam Buntyn . . . cannot be discharged without just cause. The city has the burden of proof and must prove with a preponderance of the evidence that the allegations are true and that the discipline proposed is appropriate.”

Councilman Robert Wagner said he had read the letter of termination but had not seen the documentation of the charges against Buntyn. Wagner noted that the action was the prerogative of the city manager, and suggested that politics may have played a role in the firing.

‘Political In-Fighting’

“These things have been caused by political in-fighting between the council, the city manager and the department head (Buntyn),” Wagner said. “I am not going to judge him (Buntyn) in the press. Time will tell if Bernardi is correct.”

Councilman Lee Prentiss, a Los Angeles Police Department detective, said, “All the allegations will stand up in a court of law if need be. I hope it doesn’t go that far.”

The other three council members could not be reached for comment or did not return calls from The Times.

Buntyn refused this week to discuss the accusations against him, but said in a previous interview that the attempt to fire him stemmed from political feuds with several councilmen. Buntyn, who had been police chief for eight years, said that three councilmen had been the subject of police investigations, but would not disclose their names or details of the cases.

“The problem with elected officials is that they would like to have a certain amount of control over the Police Department,” Buntyn said. “I’ve had a problem with four of the five councilmen at various times. Three of the five have been investigated for various things. Obviously, if you have three of them under investigation at one time or another, you’re not going to be best of friends. There were some severe problems I had to deal with with the City Council.”

Not Made Public

After receiving the first termination letter, Buntyn requested and was granted a personnel hearing in September, Bernardi said, but the outcome of the proceedings was not made public. Buntyn filed a $20-million claim for damages against the city on Nov. 8, alleging that the leak of the August termination letter to the press damaged his reputation and invaded his privacy. The matter has been turned over to the city’s insurance carrier, Bernardi said.

Buntyn has appealed his firing to a three-member administrative review board, which will have one member chosen by the city manager, one by Buntyn and one member from the community. That hearing has not been scheduled.

Buntyn indicated that he may take additional legal action. “We’ll just proceed with all the legal remedies that are available to us,” Buntyn said in an interview after his dismissal.

Buntyn also has applied for a stress-related disability retirement from his $50,496-a-year job, and that case is pending, Bernardi said. Before coming to South Pasadena, Buntyn had been police chief in Stanton.

Reese, a former commander with 23 years on the force, was named acting chief in June. Reese said he will receive $45,600 a year to run the department, which has 30 sworn officers. He said there had been some “apprehension” among the rank and file during the past few months, but that with the city’s recent approval of a new police building and the naming of a permanent chief, “morale has never been higher.”

“I don’t revel in the misfortune of another, but my responsibility lies here with the department and with progressing straight ahead.