Ex-Police Officer Sues to Gain Reinstatement : Law enforcement: He was fired when superiors learned that he had hired prostitutes for sex after an accident left his then-wife a quadriplegic.

A former Huntington Beach police officer who was fired after department officials learned that he had hired prostitutes for sex sued Tuesday in an attempt to get his job back.

Former officer Gary Gosper is suing the city, the department and the chief of police and asking the court to order the defendants to honor an arbitrator’s Feb. 7 recommendation that he be rehired.

Gosper, 39, contended during an arbitration hearing that his actions stemmed from a tragic traffic accident in 1983 involving him and his family. His wife was left a quadriplegic.

Although he said he tried to maintain his marriage after the accident, the circumstances of his wife’s condition began to affect him, said the ruling, which is attached to the lawsuit.

Several years after the accident, Gosper testified at the hearing, he “got this harebrained idea one day, . . . (and) I called an escort service.”

According to the arbitration hearing officer, C. Chester Brisco, Gosper--then an officer in the Laguna Beach Police Department--hired women from Sophie’s Escort Service at least 20 times for sexual relations over four or five years.

During that period, he divorced his wife of 15 years, who had become hostile and resentful of his behavior, Brisco said in his ruling. In 1989, Gosper transferred to the Huntington Beach Police Department.

A year after that he remarried, but despite his new marriage, Gosper used the escort service at least once more, Brisco said.

Gosper testified that he was “scared” and “ashamed” of his behavior.

In 1991, the service was raided by officers from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Seized was a client book, which listed Gosper’s address under the name Gary Gospea, according to Brisco.

Vice officers with the Riverside department contacted Huntington Beach police, resulting in an internal investigation. Gosper admitted to the city’s psychologist that he hired prostitutes, Brisco said. After the inquiry, Gosper was fired on May 30.

During the arbitration hearing, city attorneys argued that Gosper’s firing was proper, that the department should not have to bear the risk of his misconduct and that he had committed a crime and would not be a credible witness should he be called to testify in other matters as an officer.

Gosper argued that he suffers from “compulsive behavior” and “sexual addiction,” Brisco said in his ruling, adding that Gosper’s “off-duty conduct caused no injury to the public service.”

Brisco concluded that Gosper’s “misconduct is not likely to be repeated as long as (he) continues to engage in counseling support therapy. A lesser penalty than discharge is justified.”

He recommended that Gosper be given back his job, without back pay, on condition that he continues with therapy.