BREA : Chief Seeks an End of Gifts to Officers

It is a tradition that dies hard, but Police Chief Donald L. Forkus is determined that merchants will stop offering gifts and discounts to officers. “I firmly believe we make respectable salaries, and we shouldn’t have to rely on merchants for free meals,” Forkus said.

It has long been the department’s policy to forbid officers to accept gifts from merchants, including coffee, soda and discounts on meals. But enforcing the policy has been an ongoing task for Forkus.

The problem isn’t the officers, Forkus said, but too-generous merchants.

“There have actually been scenes,” he said, “when the officer would insist on paying, and the merchant would refuse his money.”

To help get the word to merchants, Forkus sent a letter to the Chamber of Commerce, which published the letter in its July newsletter. In the letter, Forkus told the business community that while he appreciates the kindness, businesses that continue to press gifts or discounts on officers will become off-limits to them.

“A kind word or a smile is all the thanks we need,” he wrote.

Gifts also “put the officer in an uncomfortable position. What it lends itself to is officers developing a close relationship with a business. Sooner or later we may find ourselves in the position of taking action against the business and the merchant may want special considerations,” Forkus said.

The most common gift offered officers is coffee, Forkus said, with discounts on meals a close second. The most unusual offer he received came from a financial institution that opened a branch in Brea. The manager came to Forkus and offered free checking accounts to all police officers.

Forkus said he would consider the offer if it was extended to all Brea employees.

“He came back and said OK, so the city manager sent out a notice to all city employees about the offer.”

If the bank was hoping to get added police protection, the strategy failed. None of the officers took advantage of the offer.