COSTA MESA : Officer Sues Chief, City Over Suspension

A veteran police officer has filed a lawsuit against the city, the chief of police and the city manager, contending he was wrongly disciplined for allegedly lying to a supervisor.

Chano Camarillo, who has been with the Police Department for 27 years, filed the lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court on Wednesday. He was suspended by Police Chief David L. Snowden for 120 hours without pay in January for allegedly lying during an internal investigation about a 30-minute personal phone call he answered while on duty.

In his lawsuit, Camarillo admits taking the phone call but denies that he lied about it during the investigation. He also contends that his actions did not merit such a severe penalty, particularly in light of his 27 years of service and his good record, said Richard A. Levine, Camarillo’s attorney.

“We’re questioning the appropriateness of the penalty,” Levine said. “There are a number of factors why this (penalty) was excessive.”

Levine cited past cases in which Costa Mesa officers were given much lighter penalties, including one officer who was suspended for five days on a similar charge.

However, according to a city report included in the lawsuit, another officer was fired and another demoted and suspended for lying to superiors.

Camarillo is demanding back pay, attorney’s fees and other costs incurred in the lawsuit.

An internal police investigation showed that Camarillo left his post Jan. 10 to answer a 30-minute personal telephone call while other officers in his area were busy, according to the city report.

The report also states that Camarillo lied to an investigator and a police sergeant about the call. Levine said the report does not contain any evidence to substantiate the charge against his client.

Snowden and attorneys for the city were unavailable for comment Friday.

Camarillo, who plans to retire later this year, is on medical leave due to work-related injuries, said a spokesman for the Police Department.