Firing of Officer Who Shot Driver Angers Union : Law enforcement: Colleagues complain that the department acted before Alan B. Ice had a chance to clear his name in court.

The firing of a Long Beach police officer who faces criminal charges stemming from an off-duty shooting has angered police union officials, who argued that the officer should first have been allowed his day in court.

Police Cpl. Alan B. Ice was fired from his job of 21 years on Monday by police officials who said that he “intentionally and without justification” shot a motorist in Orange County two months ago.

Ice, 45, faces felony assault charges stemming from the Sept. 28 traffic dispute in Fountain Valley that quickly escalated into a shooting. Neil Cramer, 36, of Santa Ana, was hospitalized with a bullet wound to his chest and is now recovering.

Ice’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 20 in Orange County Municipal Court.

Long Beach Police Officers Assn. President Paul Chastain said the department should have given Ice a chance to clear his name in court before firing him.

“We’re upset because they fired him so quickly. They didn’t even wait for his preliminary hearing,” Chastain said. Chastain and Ice’s attorney, James E. Trott, said they plan to appeal the dismissal to the city’s Civil Service Commission.

City Councilman Doug Drummond, a retired Long Beach police commander with 29 years on the force, said the department would have been exposing itself to greater liability if it had not fired Ice.

“We are compelled to eliminate those officers who may bring discredit or liability upon the department,” Drummond said Wednesday. “An employer has the duty to carefully select employees in the hiring process, carefully train them, properly supervise them and properly discipline them. If you have a bad apple, it is the duty of the city to remove that employee.

“I understand (the union’s) argument, but understand that the city has a duty to examine the circumstances and make a determination whether (Ice’s actions were) proper or improper. I’m not talking about guilt,” Drummond said.

Nonetheless, the police union has rallied behind Ice, calling the shooting an accident and saying that anyone with law enforcement training would also have reached for a gun under the circumstances.

The confrontation began when Cramer, who was driving his fiancee and his 11-year-old daughter in his truck, swerved to avoid a fallen cyclist at an intersection in Fountain Valley. Ice, who was driving behind Cramer, pulled alongside, and the two began a heated exchange.

Ice said that while the two yelled at each other, he saw Cramer reach for something in his truck. Ice said he feared that Cramer was reaching for a weapon, so he pulled out his 9-millimeter handgun, which went off accidentally as he tried to leave the scene.

Cramer, however, said that Ice pointed the 9-millimeter handgun at him. Cramer has denied reaching for anything. But his daughter, Autumn, told police that her father reached for a hammer, according to court documents.

In reviewing the incident, police administrators concluded that Ice “unnecessarily involved (himself) in a dispute over a traffic violation” and then “unnecessarily armed (himself),” according to Trott.

In his dismissal letter, Ice is also accused of discharging his personal weapon in “a negligent manner.”

Police administrators refused to comment on the firing. Ice could not be reached for comment.

Trott said Ice was following his “instinct” when he pulled out his weapon. “(Cramer) reached down to grab something,” he said.

Chastain agreed, saying: “(Ice) pulled out his weapon in self-defense. It was strictly an accident. That will be proven in court.”

If convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, Ice faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. He is free in lieu of $25,000 bail.

In another development, Ice and another officer who was recently fired from the department filed a lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in Los Angeles against Police Chief Lawrence Binkley and the city, contending that they were suspended before receiving proper departmental hearings.

Ice and Sgt. Robert Ballew, who faces criminal charges of sexually attacking two women on separate occasions, are seeking back pay. Ballew, charged with the attempted rape of one woman last September and the rape of another woman six years ago, initially was suspended without pay and then was fired last month. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6.

Police administrators are also investigating whether to discipline another officer involved in a high-profile case. Ronald W. Owens, a 12-year-veteran of the department, was charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run and filing a false police report, according to Trott. The officer allegedly left the scene of an accident last month and then attempted to stage a hit-and-run accident at another location to cover it up.

On Oct. 27, Owens was responding to a call about a shooting when his patrol car, with red lights and sirens blaring, sideswiped a parked car at Anaheim Street and Junipero Avenue, Trott said.