Judge Rejects Police Chief’s Bid to Regain Job
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge denied a petition Friday from fired Long Beach Police Chief Lawrence L. Binkley that might have helped him get back his job.
An attorney for Binkley sought an order from the court that would have forced Long Beach to seek an independent arbitrator to rule on any future appeal by Binkley, and provide full pay and benefits pending the outcome of an appeal. Binkley also sought to get a written list of the charges against him.
Judge Robert H. O’Brien denied the requests, saying Long Beach had not violated Binkley’s rights and is giving him an opportunity for an administrative appeal, Assistant City Atty. Robert Shannon said.
Binkley was fired Jan. 17 by City Manager James Hankla, who said that officials had lost confidence in the chief’s leadership and judgment after complaints about Binkley’s allegedly vindictive management style, among other things.
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