Huntington Park Police Chief Evaluated Amid Bias Charges

The Huntington Park City Council is reviewing the performance of Police Chief Frank Sullivan amid allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination and favoritism within the Police Department, according to City Council members.

Although council members would not comment directly on the allegations, Sullivan’s performance has been evaluated in at least two closed sessions, according to council agendas. Removing the chief is “an option in some (council members’) minds,” said Councilman Thomas Jackson, a supporter of Sullivan.

“If you talk in closed session about a department head, the goal obviously is to talk about the job he’s doing,” Jackson said. “If he’s not doing a good job, you fire him. I, and anyone close to the situation, think it’s an absurdity that he would be removed. But I’ve seen stranger things happen.”

Last month, the city settled an anti-Semitic harassment suit filed by Detective Alan Tavelman for $355,000. Tavelman, who said he was subjected to religious slurs and harassment during nine years on the force, named Sullivan in the suit.

A female former officer has a wrongful termination suit pending against the chief and the city, and a second female officer has filed a sexual harassment complaint that asks for $95,000 and the termination of Sullivan and another officer, sources familiar with the cases said.

Sullivan, a 27-year veteran of the department who has been chief for less than two years, would not comment on charges against him, but said that the council has asked him to present a plan April 4 addressing some concerns.

“The council has said there appears to be some internal problems in the Police Department, and we have some concerns and I’ve said I will look at them,” Sullivan said.

Memos written by factions within the Huntington Park Police Officers Assn. illuminate a deep division in the group over Sullivan.

Last month, according to one memo signed by two of the seven members of the association’s board, the board agreed that the department needed an independent administrative audit to examine leadership problems, procedures for investigating discrimination and sexual harassment charges, and discipline and promotion practices.

A second memo signed by four other members of the board disputes the need for the audit and states that the board retains “overall respect and support” for Sullivan.