Culver City Group Protests Hiring of King Case Officer : Reaction: Giving Timothy Wind a low-level job in the Police Department makes the city appear insensitive, council members are told.

Some Culver City residents have demanded that the city’s Police Department rescind its hiring of Timothy Wind, the former Los Angeles police officer who was acquitted of state and federal charges stemming from the Rodney G. King beating but was dismissed from the LAPD because of his role in it.

An ad-hoc group told the City Council that the hiring last month of Wind--who is performing mainly clerical duties as an unsworn community service officer--made it appear that the city was insensitive to the issues raised by the King beating.

Playing a videotape of the incident at the council’s Monday meeting, group members pointed out Wind’s participation and said they were concerned that the same thing might happen in Culver City.

The group has suggested that the city create a civilian review board to oversee decisions made by Police Chief Ted Cooke.

Wind and Cooke have declined comment.

Councilman Edward Wolkowitz said the fact that Wind was brought to trial was not a reason to deny him a job. Wind’s dismissal from the LAPD had more to do with politics than with his performance, Wolkowitz said.

“The fact that Tim Wind was found innocent twice doesn’t seem to matter,” Wolkowitz said.

Department heads, including the police chief, do not have to consult with the council before hiring personnel.

The council signs off on civilian appointments about once a month, and Wind is scheduled to be considered in October. The council generally treats the vote as a formality, but it could halt an appointment, City Clerk Thomas Crunk said.