Justice Department Clears Officer : Inquiry: Federal investigators examining four fatal shootings by Anaheim Officer Lee Smith found no evidence that he violated civil rights statutes.

A U.S. Department of Justice investigation has concluded that an Anaheim police officer did not commit criminal civil rights violations in any of the four fatal shootings he was involved in during the past four years.

Investigators found no evidence showing that Officer Lee Smith violated federal civil right statutes, it was announced Thursday by Myron Marlin, a spokesman for the Justice Department. He said the investigation, which was concluded Feb. 1, could be reopened “if further information regarding the shootings come to light.”

Smith, a 10-year veteran of the department, could not be reached for comment.

Earlier this month, Smith was named Anaheim Police Officer of the Year by a local community group. Currently, Smith works on the department’s gang task force and is a member of the SWAT team.

“He’s a tremendous policeman. Always has been,” said Bruce Bottolfson, president of the Anaheim Police Assn. “This just validates everything everyone knew--that he did nothing wrong.”

The federal probe was sparked last May when relatives of one of the dead men, Gregory Alan Rosenberger, complained to the Justice Department. The FBI looked into the shootings and passed its findings on to the Justice Department for review. The Orange County district attorney’s office had also conducted an investigation after each shooting, clearing Smith of any wrongdoing.

Although his actions have not been deemed criminal, they have cost the city nearly $200,000 in civil proceedings.

In August, the City Council agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Rosenberger. Smith shot Rosenberger six times--three times in the back--during a scuffle on Oct. 10, 1989. Smith said he feared for his life when Rosenberger, who was a suspect in a drug investigation, grabbed the grip of his holstered gun.

The other fatalities involving Smith were:

* The Feb. 2, 1989, shooting of Robert Vincent Edson Jr., who led the officer on a 45-minute car chase and then appeared to go for a weapon in his waistband when cornered by officers. Edson was unarmed.

* The Sept. 8, 1989, shooting death of Dennis William Smith, who allegedly shot and wounded an officer after a car chase and gun battle. Smith was part of a tactical police assault team that killed the suspect.

* The Dec. 9, 1991, shooting death of a burglary suspect. The man, identified as Antonio V. Galindo, broke into Smith’s condominium. He was armed with a knife.