Racial Slur Led to Fracas, Ex-RTD Officer Says

A former RTD police officer charged that two transit-agency police officers yelled “nigger” and other racial slurs at a black passenger who was trying to board a downtown bus, then wrongly arrested the passenger for a disturbance that police actually initiated.

Officer Joseph Travers, who had begun working for the Southern California Rapid Transit District in August, claimed that he was fired for reporting the Aug. 26 incident. At a press conference, Travers and passenger Anthony Guydon charged that one of the RTD officers initiated the incident seemingly without provocation.

RTD officials denied that Travers was fired for the reason he claimed but said they are investigating his allegations about the confrontation.

Incident at Bus Stop

“I’ve never witnessed anything this bizarre,” Travers said of the incident, which began near a bus stop at 6th Street and Towne Avenue. Travers, who is white, said he was part of a two-officer team making a routine bus inspection when officer Shari Barberic singled out Guydon, 27, of Los Angeles, and began making racial remarks. Later a second RTD officer, Carlos Diaz, drove up and joined the verbal assault, Travers said.

The 15-minute confrontation led to Guydon’s arrest for creating a disturbance. Charges against Guydon are set for a hearing Oct. 30 in Municipal Court.

“We stopped at the corner to check the oncoming bus . . . and (Barberic) was staring at someone,” said Travers, 30, of Dana Point. “I asked if something was wrong (and) she ignored me. She was visibly upset.”

As Guydon tried to enter the bus, Travers said, Barberic “yelled at him, called him stupid and ‘nigger.’ ” Guydon said the officer apparently reacted to the way he was looking at her.

Barberic could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

Forced to Retire

Prior to joining the 82-officer RTD force, she worked for the Hawthorne Police Dept. She was forced to retire after allegations that she had used excessive force, but later won a $25,000 judgment against the agency over the dismissal.

RTD Police Chief James P. Burgess on Tuesday described Barberic as an excellent officer in her two years of employment. Burgess, who also praised Diaz’s performance in three years of service, said it was “absolutely untrue” that Travers was fired for filing a complaint about the two officers.

In all likelihood, Travers knew he was about to be fired before he filed the complaint, Burgess said. An internal investigation of the case will conclude soon after the court hears charges against Guydon, he said.

‘Perfectly Comfortable’

“It’s hard to say what a disgruntled employee might say,” Burgess said. “I’m not at liberty to discuss why Travers didn’t pass (his one-year) probation period. But if he wants to challenge us on it . . . I’m perfectly comfortably going into court.”

Attorney George Denny, representing Travers and Guydon, said he plans to ask the district attorney’s office and the Los Angeles city attorney to investigate possible misdemeanor charges against RTD officials.