Police Chief in El Segundo Is Demoted After Probe

El Segundo Police Chief Raymond W. Lewis was demoted Thursday after an investigation into his management of the 65-officer department, City Manager Fred Sorsabal announced.

Lewis, 41, was relieved from the chief’s job shortly before noon and returned to his previous position as captain--a job he is allowed to keep under the city’s Civil Service regulations, Sorsabal said.

Sorsabal said both Lewis, who was appointed chief in 1986, and Capt. Tim Grimmond, a 21-year veteran of the force, have been placed on leave with pay pending an investigation by the city.

The city manager declined to comment further, except to say that Lewis’ dismissal as chief “has nothing to do with any criminal action.”

Several City Council members contacted also refused to discuss the matter.

“It’s too big a problem and too sensitive for us to be jawing away,” Councilman Keith Schuldt said.

Lewis could not be reached for comment.

Grimmond, reached at his home, said city officials did not specifically tell him why he was being placed on leave.

In February, city officials hired an outside consulting firm, Advanced Management Concept, to look into Lewis’ leadership of the department. Council members acknowledged at the time that officers had complained of unfair or inconsistent treatment. The company completed its work about 10 days ago and documented its findings in a written report, Sorsabal said.

However, he and City Atty. Leland Dolley have refused to make the report public or disclose its findings. The Times has requested a copy under provisions of the California Public Records Act.

On Thursday, an El Segundo police officer, who spoke on condition that he not be identified, said some officers have long been unhappy with the way Lewis managed the department and treated those under him.

“He just didn’t seem like a people person,” the officer said. “I know people are elated around here right now.”

A police official in a neighboring city, who also spoke on the condition that he not be identified, said: “The beef was that (Lewis) did not relate well within the department. He was rigid and demanding.”

Lewis, an El Segundo High School graduate who joined the police force in 1970 as a reserve officer, was involved in a previous controversy that led to the ouster of former City Manager Nicholas Romaniello. In 1986, while still a captain, Lewis wrote an internal memo criticizing Romaniello for trying to obtain confidential police reports on City Council candidate Alan West, a Romaniello foe who eventually was elected.

Romaniello, who admitted he asked Lewis if there was a police report on West, was suspended by council members after they learned of the incident. He was fired after the election.

In his memo, Lewis wrote that police files contained “nothing pertaining to any illegality or improper conduct on the part of Mr. West.” Under California law, it is a misdemeanor to release police records of an investigation if no criminal charges are filed.

Sorsabal said Frank V. Meehan, who served as Redondo Beach’s police chief from 1975 until 1983, will serve as El Segundo’s interim chief until a permanent replacement can be found. Meehan lives in Torrance.