Charge of Sexist Remark by LAPD Officer Dropped

A charge against the LAPD’s chief spokesman, Cmdr. Tim McBride, alleging that he made an inappropriate comment to a female officer was dropped late Thursday before it could be considered at a Board of Rights hearing Friday.

Chief Willie L. Williams dismissed the charge after the city attorney advised him that it did not amount to misconduct, said Rick Smith, an LAPD advocate representing the agency at the hearing. The city attorney’s office refused to comment.

McBride was accused of saying, “Well, looking the way you do, I can see why you don’t have to,” to Sgt. Kristine Kenney at an October 1995 police function when she said she never pays for hotel rooms.

Kenney said the comment came after they both bid on a trip during a silent auction and McBride invited her to join him on the trip and share the hotel room.

Kenney’s allegation was one of two charges of inappropriate remarks brought against McBride, who was given a five-day suspension that he appealed to the board. He has denied both charges and remained on duty pending the outcome of the hearing.

On Friday, the three board members heard testimony regarding the remaining charge that McBride said, “Hi, babe,” when greeting Officer Mary Elizabeth Hatter in August 1995. The board will rule April 18. Kenney, who attended Friday’s hearing to testify about the remaining allegation, said she was furious that the charge involving her was dropped.

“This idea of the police policing themselves is the biggest sham . . . because when you’re dealing with a commanding officer, you don’t have a chance in the world.”

One police watchdog group said dismissing that charge trivialized the matter and discouraged other women from reporting inappropriate behavior.

“Dropping it down to one charge . . . was deliberately done to make this look like a minor little thing . . . when that’s not the matter at all,” said Penny Harrington, director of the National Center for Women & Policing.

Barry Levin, McBride’s lawyer, said the city attorney’s decision was appropriate because his client did nothing improper.

According to Levin, McBride did not recall saying “babe,’ but acknowledged that it was part of his vocabulary. Using that term does not necessarily violate department policy, Levin said. “We don’t take this as a trivial matter,” he said. “It’s an assault on his character and integrity. He did not intend to demean Officer Hatter in any way . . . and he always had a professional relationship with her no different from any other officer.”

The two women officers said McBride’s alleged comment was indicative of a pervasive attitude in the department toward female officers.

“He’s not saying, ‘Hey stud,’ to the male officers going by,” said Carol Sobel, an attorney representing Hatter. “He has sent a signal that women don’t deserve the same respect as men. It’s demeaning to them, particularly because it’s coming from a commander.”