Settlement Near for Police Officer Ousted After 19 Years on Simi Force : Litigation: City will reportedly not rehire Robert Klamser under the agreement, which is expected to be finalized in another week.

After a flurry of lawsuits and complaints, the city of Simi Valley is nearing a settlement with ousted Police Lt. Robert Klamser in which the city will reportedly not rehire him and likely pay him less than $50,000.

Although the final details may not be worked out for another week, both the city and Klamser have agreed to the settlement, City Atty. John Torrance said.

Klamser, 41, first filed suit in Ventura County Superior Court in December, 1993, charging that he was improperly ousted in retaliation for protecting victims of sexual harassment and for reporting an officer he thought was selling illegal drugs.

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City officials, however, cited unspecified medical reasons when they forced Klamser to retire a month earlier, prompting the suit.

Klamser, who served 19 years with the Simi Valley Police Department, sought reinstatement to his job, back pay and unspecified damages.

Neither Torrance nor Klamser’s attorney, William Rehwald, would discuss the terms of the proposed settlement.

In a written statement, Rehwald said Klamser “understands that the agreement with the city of Simi Valley prohibits comment by either party, and he will abide by the letter and the spirit of that agreement, just as he hopes the city will do.”

But a source close to the negotiations who asked not to be named said that Klamser would not be rehired by the city, and that the settlement would total “less than $50,000.”

Klamser, who in the past has discussed the case openly, Wednesday issued a brief prepared statement that did not give details of the settlement.

“I want to express my profound gratitude to my professional colleagues, my friends and most of all my family,” the statement said. “Your support during this transition has been incredible.”

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After his dismissal, Klamser went without pay until June, 1994, when the city reinstated his $66,000-a-year salary after deciding that it had improperly denied him a hearing on his ouster.

In December, Klamser’s salary was again cut off. A month earlier, Klamser had filed a second suit, in Los Angeles federal court, demanding a hearing before city officials to contest what he said was their finding that he was mentally disabled.

In addition, Klamser appealed his forced retirement to two state panels--the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board and the Office of Administrative Hearings.

Both the compensation board and the city’s disability insurance company must agree to the settlement before it is final, Torrance said.

“It has not been approved by all parties involved,” he said.

If approved, the agreement would settle both the federal and Superior Court lawsuits.

Councilman Bill Davis said he is hopeful that the settlement will resolve the matter.

“This has been hanging on long enough,” Davis said. “If it works out, it would be a very fair settlement for everybody.”