HUNTINGTON BEACH : Police Assn. Sues Department Leaders

The Huntington Beach Police Assn. has filed a lawsuit against the Police Department’s top brass, charging that management officials are retaliating against employees for earlier legal action.

New working conditions established for department employees include requiring officers to carry a pepper spray the officers consider unsafe and changes in guidelines for overtime work and pay, according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in Superior Court in Santa Ana.

Additionally, the lawsuit claims that detectives are no longer allowed to use department cars after their work shifts are over--even though they must remain on call--and that narcotics detectives must now undergo greater scrutiny by filing financial disclosure forms.

Police Chief Ronald E. Lowenberg said Friday that he could not discuss matters relating to a pending lawsuit, but he said he believes that the department is well managed.

The lawsuit claims that the changed working conditions are retaliatory and stem from an earlier lawsuit that involved a dispute in which police sergeants claimed that they were forced to work overtime without being paid.

The suit seeks an injunction against the new working conditions.