Long Beach : City Settles Lawsuit With Former Police Commander

Long Beach officials have settled out of court with former police Cmdr. Charles H. Parks, who sued the city and then-Chief Lawrence L. Binkley, claiming they violated his civil rights, attorneys for both sides said this week.

As part of the agreement, Parks will receive $82,500 and an unspecified sum to pay for his health insurance premiums, said Deputy City Atty. Michael Mais. The city admitted no wrongdoing in connection with the settlement, Assistant City Atty. Robert Shannon said.

Parks filed a lawsuit two years ago alleging that Binkley and then-Assistant Chief Eugene Brizzolara ostracized him because he would not publicly criticize the police union. In the lawsuit, Parks said that Binkley excluded him from meetings with other commanders, threatened him with undesirable assignments and pressured him to retire.

At the time, Binkley opposed the police union on a number of issues. Earlier this year, Binkley was fired from his post after other commanders accused him of treating employees unfairly and managing the force in a vindictive manner.

Parks also was granted a disability retirement, which gives him tax breaks on his pension.