LONG BEACH : Court Ruling Supports Firing of Police Officer

A state appeals court has reversed a lower court ruling that allowed a Long Beach police officer to return to work after he was fired for shooting a motorist during an off-duty argument.

The officer, Alan B. Ice, 49, shot and wounded Neil Cramer, a Santa Ana carpenter, during a 1991 traffic dispute in Fountain Valley. Cramer recovered.

“Alan Ice conducted himself in a manner that betrayed public expectations for a peace officer’s maturity, judgment and self-control,” the three appellate judges wrote.

Court papers say the scuffle started when Cramer swerved his camper in front of Ice’s Jeep to avoid a child. After exchanging angry words, Cramer began to drive away. Ice fired a round, puncturing Cramer’s lung. Ice claimed that he didn’t intend to pull the trigger.

All criminal charges against Ice were dismissed in 1993 after two juries deadlocked.

City Manager James C. Hankla fired Ice, but the Civil Service Commission reinstated the officer. A Superior Court judge upheld the commission’s decision, but Hankla appealed.

The appellate judges concluded that the Civil Service Commission abused its discretion by reinstating Ice.

James E. Trott, Ice’s attorney, has appealed to the state Supreme Court. “There were two criminal trials and neither resulted in a conviction,” he said.

Ice, who was reinstated in 1993, remains a member of the force. He was put on paid disability leave April 26 for a duty-related shoulder injury, said Robert E. Shannon, assistant city attorney.