Binkley Apparently on the Way Out : Police: Long Beach manager and embattled chief are negotiating how he will leave office, sources say.

Embattled Long Beach Police Chief Lawrence Binkley’s days with the department appear to be numbered and negotiations are under way to determine when and how he will leave the force, city officials said Tuesday.

“I think Chief Binkley has placed himself in a position where he cannot remain as chief,” said City Councilman Clarence Smith. “How that happens--the city manager is trying to work that out.”

Binkley and City Manager James Hankla are trying to “work out a graceful exit” for the chief, said one City Hall source, who asked not to be identified. “Binkley wants to go out with his head high.”

A number of city officials confirmed that the negotiations are under way, but none would be quoted by name. City officials are keeping a tight lid on the negotiations. But sources indicated that Binkley may be allowed to either resign or retire if he agrees to various conditions, including a promise not to sue the city.

Neither Binkley nor Hankla could be reached for comment.

Binkley, head of the force since 1987, was temporarily relieved of duty last month by Hankla, who began a review of the chief’s performance after police commanders complained of Binkley’s allegedly vindictive management style.

The controversy intensified last week when it was revealed that Binkley had secretly gathered information on city officials, including the city prosecutor and a councilman. One city official said the information ranged from potentially serious to silly.

“I understand that it’s past the point of no return,” said one city official, who indicated that if an agreement is not worked out, Hankla may fire Binkley.

The Long Beach City Charter gives the city manager the authority to hire and fire all employees, including department heads. If terminated, Binkley has the option to appeal to the City Council. But a majority of the nine council members have said privately that they doubt Binkley could muster majority support on the council.

“I think if you take a poll of the council you’ll find less and less support,” said another City Hall source. “The (secret) file thing is about the last straw for some of them.”

Binkley used department resources to gather potentially damaging information on at least four public officials, city officials have said. Last month, at least some of the information was turned over by the Police Department to the county district attorney’s office, which is evaluating the information about the city prosecutor to determine whether to open an investigation.

Binkley has also since supplied information to the district attorney’s office, which has declined to disclose the contents.

Hankla said in recent court documents that he asked Binkley to retire when the city manager began his in-house investigation in early December. He noted that the chief had already informed him that he planned to leave his job in June and apply for the job of police chief in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates said in an interview Tuesday that he had at one time encouraged Binkley to apply for the job. “I don’t know what all of this has done to him but I think he would have been a serious contender.”