Panel Clears Police Union Official of Sex Charges

A prominent Los Angeles police union official who was accused of sexual misconduct and relieved of duty last year was found not guilty of all charges, police officials said Thursday.

Sgt. Dennis Zine, one of the union’s most outspoken directors and frequent critic of Chief Bernard C. Parks, was cleared of 13 misconduct counts stemming from a 1997 business trip during which he was accused of making inappropriate sexual advances to a female LAPD officer.

Among the allegations leveled at Zine last August was that he put a container of urine and a dozen condoms in the suitcase of the female officer after she repeatedly rebuffed his sexual overtures. He was immediately relieved of duty pending a hearing on the charges.

Zine was cleared this week by a three-member LAPD disciplinary board after more than 30 days of closed-door testimony taken over a seven-month period.

“Some people will undoubtedly interpret the board’s findings in won/loss terms,” Cmdr. Dan Koenig wrote in the board’s 11-page decision, which was distributed at a closed hearing Wednesday. “However, our verdict is hardly a vindication of Sgt. Zine’s actions, for many of his decisions reflect unbelievably poor judgment.”

Koenig, who chaired the disciplinary panel, wrote that board members had difficulty getting to the truth because neither Zine nor his accuser, Officer Denise Ward, were credible witnesses.

According to LAPD documents, Ward accepted an invitation from Zine to accompany him on a weeklong police union function in Calgary, Canada. Ward testified that she believed her relationship with Zine was platonic, but Zine testified that he thought they were traveling as boyfriend and girlfriend and was emotionally hurt when he discovered otherwise.

Ward contended that Zine tricked her into believing that they would have separate accommodations when in fact they didn’t. Then, she testified, Zine retaliated against her after she rebuffed him by disparaging her character and sexually assaulting her.

Zine, according to the board’s summary of the case, described “the entire episode as a courting ritual straight out of the 1940s. In his version, he behaved like a perfect gentleman while Officer Ward’s behavior was less than ladylike.”

Neither account rang true to the board.

“We do not believe that Officer Ward was naively taken advantage of by the sexually predatory Sgt. Zine and we do not believe that Zine was victimized by Ward,” the board’s ruling said. “The truth, unfortunately, lies somewhere in the middle and it is extremely distressing for this board to be charged with determining the truth when we are convinced without hesitation that neither side is being entirely candid.”

The board, however, did believe Zine when he said he played no role in planting the condoms and canister of urine in Ward’s suitcase. Testimony during the hearing revealed that a female officer put those items in the suitcase as a prank on Zine.

Koenig, who declined to comment Thursday, wrote in the panel’s decision that board members believed Ward was using Zine for a free vacation and Zine invited her “so he could have a sexual relationship” with her.

Throughout his yearlong ordeal with the LAPD’s internal disciplinary process, Zine steadfastly has denied any wrongdoing. He has accused Parks of orchestrating a campaign to drive him off the force because of his outspoken criticism of the chief’s leadership.

The charges against Zine, a politically ambitious and gregarious officer, surfaced at a time when he was serving as a member of the city’s elected Charter Commission. It remains to be seen whether the charges will hurt any future political plans he may have. Zine once ran unsuccessfully for the City Council and has been talked about as a contender for a San Fernando Valley council seat.

Zine declined to comment Thursday, referring calls to the police union.

“Dennis is very happy to have this all over with,” said Dave Hepburn, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League. “We had a concern that there was a political motivation by the chief to go after him, but apparently the [trial board] listened to the evidence and got to the truth of the matter.”

LAPD Cmdr. David J. Kalish, a spokesman for the chief, rejected any suggestion that the charges were politically motivated.

The ruling means Zine can return to duty.

He still faces a civil sexual harassment lawsuit on the matter filed by Ward, who could not be reached for comment.