Police chief gets another warning

City Manager Jerry Mudd writes a memo to the chief after a Pinellas Park officer complains to the personnel department.

By ANNE LINDBERG

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 13, 2000

PINELLAS PARK -- For the second time in three days, City Manager Jerry Mudd has warned the police chief that his staff is not to intimidate officers who complain about the department.

In a four-paragraph memo written Wednesday, Mudd cautioned the chief that sergeants or other police employees are not to coach officers how to respond to an upcoming morale survey and in other inquiries regarding problems in the department.

Mudd wrote his memo after a Pinellas Park police officer complained to the personnel department. Among the unnamed officer's allegations:

Some police sergeants have questioned officers to try finding out who gave information to the officers who complained of a departmental "hit list."

Based on remarks made by some sergeants at staff meetings at the beginning of work shifts, some officers may feel intimidated about providing information during the survey and other upcoming investigations.

Those same remarks caused some officers to believe they are being coached on the proper way to answer questions.

"I have no information at this time which would confirm the accuracy of any of the assertions," Mudd wrote.

He added, "However, I am concerned about the creation of any perceptions which may tend to discourage or dissuade police department personnel from voicing legitimate concerns . . . about issues relating to treatment of employees."

Mudd was out of town late last week and could not be reached for comment.

Police Chief David Milchan said Thursday that he does not believe the allegations because he already had warned staff members not to question or intimidate employees.

"We made it very clear to the sergeants to act responsibly and professionally," Milchan said. "But we will be reminding the sergeants that they shouldn't do anything like that."

In a memo last Monday, the city manager had criticized Milchan for trying to find out if certain officers had complained about conditions and treatment in the police department. In that memo, Mudd also told Milchan to make sure his administrative staff knew not to even give the appearance of berating or intimidating officers.

To date, three female officers have filed state and federal claims alleging sexual discrimination and harassment within the police department.

Two male officers have filed union grievances, saying they areon a "hit list" of officers targeted for dismissal because they are older and are seen as disruptive.

An officer's wife has charged that the harassment and retaliation extended to families.

And a look at exit interviews from those who have left the police department show that claims of sexual, racial and age discrimination go back at least five years.

The City Council, at Mudd's urging, has agreed to spend about $41,000 for a climate survey to gauge morale in the department and offer suggestions for improving it.

Mudd also wants the council to hire a retired judge to investigate the "hit list" allegations.

Milchan agreed this is a tough time for his officers, but he maintains that nothing is wrong in his department.

"Morale is kind of like a will o' the wisp. It rises and falls. These are professional people, and I'm sure that most all of them feel they would rather not read this kind of stuff in the paper," Milchan said. "When it's all over and done with, they're going to find we're a fine department . . . and that nobody is feeling abused or threatened or anything like that."

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