D.A. Opening Inquiry Into Tustin Police Allegations

Five Police Department employees will be questioned in an inquiry by the district attorney’s office into alleged misappropriation of weapons, an official said Wednesday.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Guy Ormes said investigators will interview the employees “soon.” Ormes said the probe, which he described as a routine “inquiry,” started after he received a request from City Atty. James G. Rourke on Dec. 22 to look into the matter.

“I’ll call it an inquiry at this point,” Ormes said.

Although Ormes declined to specify the focus of the inquiry, he is expected to check into allegations that department shotguns were diverted for personal use by an employee, city officials said.

Ormes also declined to divulge the identities of the employees he will question, saying that their names were provided to him on condition that they remain anonymous. The interviews would depend on the employees’ schedule, he said.

Whether charges will be filed would depend on the outcome of the probe, Ormes said.

Several City Council members said Wednesday they refrained from learning the identities of the employees to encourage them and others who may have information to come forward.

“I don’t want to know,” said Mayor Leslie Anne Pontious. “I see no reason for me to know. I’m trying to honor their request to be anonymous.”

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Potts said: “There were some concerns about their identities because of the kind of information they have. Their careers could be ruined. So it was not important for us to know their names.”

Councilman Jeffrey Thomas confirmed that the district attorney’s office is looking into allegations that a police officer used department weapons for personal use.

The inquiry is separate from an investigation by an auditing firm into alleged excessive charges on city-issued credit cards by ranking Police Department officials.

Finance Department records show that police officials charged for meals, drinks, flowers and other expenses that were described by city officials as excessive. As a result, the city has recalled all credit cards issued to city employees and ordered the audit.