Ex-City Manager Files Suit Over Firing by Council

Former Redondo Beach City Manager Bill Kirchhoff filed a lawsuit Thursday against the city, the police officers association and the former and current City Council members who had a hand in firing him in May.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that the city fired Kirchhoff without due process in retaliation for pointing out irregularities in payroll practices utilized by the Police Department. Kirchhoff seeks unspecified general and punitive damages.

Kirchhoff came under fire from employee groups, including the police and fire unions, in February for having what they termed a “heavy-handed management style.” Kirchhoff was placed on a three-month paid leave while the city conducted an evaluation. He was fired in May because City Council members said they had lost confidence in him based on morale issues.

Mayor Greg Hill said firing Kirchhoff was a personnel issue, not a personal issue.

“He disagreed with a lot of our interpretations,” Hill said. “It doesn’t surprise me that he has taken it to this next step.”