IRVINE : Chief to Meet With Six Accused Officers

Police Chief Charles S. Brobeck is scheduled to begin a series of closed-door meetings today with six officers to allow them to defend themselves against allegations stemming from an internal affairs investigation that could lead to their firing or suspension.

Brobeck will see half the officers today and the rest on Monday, attorneys said. Authorities have declined to detail the accusations, citing a state law prohibiting disclosure of personnel matters.

City and police officials stressed that the accusations against the six officers are not connected to a sexual harassment lawsuit filed in February by four current and former female employees or an internal affairs investigation into an alleged “Code 4 Club” among officers, whose members reportedly had sex with women in patrol cars.

City officials said in June, and reiterated on Thursday, that investigators found nothing to show that the club existed but they found that some officers designed pins bearing a club logo.

A City Hall source said sexual activity is involved in some of the accusations against the six officers, although it wasn’t known how many of the officers may be implicated.

City Manager Paul O. Brady Jr. said he would not rule out the possibility that some officers might have used the Code 4 Club pins to “conjure up” some particular meaning.

“Who knows what they had in mind?” he said.

Attorneys declined to identify the officers involved.

But sources said that Brobeck notified Officers Charles Baxter, Robert Landman and Wayne Shaw on Aug. 19 of his intent to fire them, and that they were placed on paid leave.

Officers Mario Asturias, Owen Kreza and Henry Boggs, the president of the Irvine Police Assn., were told they face suspension and remain at work, the sources said.

Charges against the police officers came to light during an internal investigation prompted by the sexual harassment lawsuit.

Police furthered their internal affairs probe in July after a woman called the department to report some unusual activity on behalf of an officer, police officials said.

Police said they found no evidence to support the woman’s allegations.

But her information led to other alleged misconduct that now forms the basis of the charges against the officers.

Brobeck said none of the allegations involve criminal behavior.

He has characterized some of the officers’ alleged actions as “absolutely stupid,” minor violations of departmental regulations.

Under state law and department policy, the accused officers have the right to call for an informal conference and to be accompanied by their attorneys. The chief then decides if the intended discipline will be carried out, amended or dropped.

If the discipline stands, the officer can appeal to the city manager, said Martin J. Mayer, a Police Department attorney who will attend the conferences today and Monday.

If the city manager rules against an officer, the officer can appeal the case to Orange County Superior Court, Mayer said.