Officer Gets Hearing on Weapon Ruling

A former Gardena police officer has won the right to a formal hearing on whether he is psychologically fit to carry a concealed weapon.

The state appellate court decision handed down Monday is the latest twist in a six-year legal battle pitting retired Officer Craig Knapp, 41, against the city of Gardena.

At issue in the current lawsuit is Police Chief Richard Propster’s refusal to issue Knapp a concealed weapon endorsement, a privilege normally accorded retiring police officers.

Knapp’s skirmishes with city officials stem back to 1984 when the department forced him to take a disability retirement, based on a psychologist’s report that Knapp was more likely than other officers to fire his gun. Knapp was involved in at least seven shootings during his 13-year stint with the department, including a fatal shooting in 1983.

The highly decorated Vietnam veteran appealed the decision and was reinstated in 1986. Two months later, however, Knapp retired voluntarily, citing a hostile work environment. Shortly after that, he requested the concealed weapon endorsement.

Propster eventually denied the request, noting that Knapp’s disability retirement was based on psychological stress. Knapp said he needs the concealed weapon endorsement in order to obtain work in the security field and to protect himself.

The city maintained that the endorsement is up to the discretion of the police chief. Under the court decision, the city must grant Knapp the endorsement or else with Knapp jointly appoint a three-person panel to decide the issue. The city is expected to decide next week whether or not to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.