Redondo Beach Official Begins a Paid Leave

Redondo Beach City Manager Bill Kirchhoff began a three-week paid leave of absence Monday while an outside consultant evaluates his management style.

The leave comes in wake of allegations by the Redondo Beach Police Officers Assn. that the city spied on the officers during a recent meeting. Three workers who Kirchhoff supervises were discovered Thursday sitting in a video control room while officers met in a nearby conference room where cameras were present.

The city denies the claim and the three workers have said they were learning to operate the equipment. Police officials have said that there was no videotape in the videocassette recorder and no microphone was hooked up in the meeting room.

Relations between the police and Kirchhoff have become strained over the last few months as the city manager has openly criticized the department about overtime costs and operations.

City officials have imposed a gag order on themselves, according to Mayor Brad Parton, while the evaluation takes place. The city has also given the case to the county district attorney’s office for review.

Spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said officials have not yet made a decision to open an investigation into the matter. A meeting on it is set for Feb. 28.