Vernon Reveals Plans to Retire This Month

Assistant Police Chief Robert L. Vernon, whose 37-year career was marred by controversy over his fundamentalist Christian beliefs and alleged favoritism toward officers who shared his faith, announced his plans for retirement Wednesday.

Speaking at a Greater Los Angeles Press Club luncheon in Studio City, Vernon defended the Los Angeles Police Department against charges of racism and brutality, criticized the Christopher Commission’s findings and then told his audience in an aside: “I might retire before June 30th, so I’m saying what I want to.”

He did not elaborate but later confirmed plans to leave his post by April 24, police sources said.

The son of a Los Angeles police officer, Vernon in recent years has become mired in allegations that he promoted fellow members of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, where he is an elder, and improperly injected his religious views into police affairs.

Vernon, 58, consistently denied charges that he headed a “God squad” within the department but nonetheless suffered two significant career blows in recent months.

A candidate for chief of police, Vernon failed to make a list of six finalists for the job. And last month, a federal judge dismissed a $10-million lawsuit that Vernon had filed alleging that he was the victim of religious persecution and a “witch hunt” by top city officials.