Burbank Police Sergeant in FBI Probe Killed

Sgt. Neil Gunn Sr.
Photo Credit: Courtesy the Gunn family/LA Times

November 10, 2009 UPDATE
Gunn Family Fundraiser Tonight Nov 10

November 9, 2009 PM UPDATE
Special Meeting for the Vote of No Confidence Nov 12, 2009

November 9, 2009 AM UPDATE
Looking Back at the Burbank Law Suits

November 8, 2009 UPDATE
Amazing Grace for the Gunn Family and for Burbank

November 7, 2009 UPDATE
Burbank Leader Editorial: Police chief should resign

November 6, 2009 UPDATE
Keep Them in Your Prayers

November 5, 2009 UPDATE
Now is the Time for Healing

November 4, 2009 UPDATE
Police Chief Asked to Go on Leave at Council Meeting

November 3, 2009 PM UPDATE
"The department turned its back on him." Mrs. Gunn

November 3, 2009 AM UPDATE
The Gunn Family Speaks

November 2, 2009 UPDATE
Autopsy for Neil Gunn? Suicide Note? Witnesses?

November 1, 2009 UPDATE
City of Burbank Family or Dangerous Nepotism?

October 31, 2009 UPDATE
Burbank Cop: Shot to the Head or to the Chest?

ORGINIAL POST October 29, 2009
The headline says Neil Gunn shot himself in my hometown in southern California, but I have come to be suspicious of any high profile suicide.

10/30/09 It is the next day and now I'm thinking, who commits suicide on a public street, esp a police officer? PLUS, the first first report says, "Witnesses said the man was heavy-set and had a gunshot wound to the chest, but police would not confirm their accounts." Who are the witnesses? And sorry to be so graphic here, but a shot to the chest may miss the heart, thus the reason most shoot into the head. This whole thing stinketh!

Scroll down for updates.


A member of the Burbank Police Department puts up barriers Thursday morning, shielding members of the public from viewing the body of Sgt. Thomas Gunn, Sr. (Raul Roa/News-Press)

Sergeant shoots self on residential street

Thomas Neil Gunn Sr. was listed in recent FBI probe

By Christopher Cadelago
Published: Last Updated Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:39 PM PDT
source

HILLSIDE — A Burbank Police sergeant who was listed in an FBI probe into police misconduct shot himself to death Thursday morning on the corner of a residential street, authorities said.

Burbank Police Sgt. Neil Thomas Gunn Sr., 50, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the corner of North Sunset Canyon Drive and East Harvard Road, Sgt. Thor Merich said.

Police were called to the intersection at about 11:40 a.m. after witnesses reported seeing Gunn turn the gun on himself, Merich said. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Officers sectioned off several blocks of Sunset Canyon Drive and surrounding streets, shielding views of the body from the public as detectives investigated the scene. The U.S. attorney’s office on Sept. 14 issued a grand jury subpoena for personnel records involving 12 members of the Burbank Police Department. The subpoena sought records on “use of force, defensive tactics, Tasers, pepper spray, or the rules and ramifications pertaining to the use of excessive force or a violation of civil/constitutional rights.”

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller earlier this month confirmed that the agency was looking into possible civil rights violations by officers, the results of which would be forwarded to the Department of Justice. She would not specify when the probe began, how long it would last, or expand on why the officers were named in the probe. Several of the officers listed in the probe — Bill Taylor, Omar Rodriguez and Steve Karagiosian — have also filed lawsuits against the Police Department alleging racial discrimination, harassment and on-the-job retaliation.

Residents of the hillside enclave spent the morning outside of their homes calming their neighbors those who feared they were in danger as detectives confirmed Gunn had shot himself.

Erminio Iacobellis, who lives in the 1000 block of East San Jose Avenue, said he never imagined a high-profile slaying within earshot of his home.

“This doesn’t happen in the city,” Iacobellis said, staring across the police barrier. “Nothing like this happens here.”

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And here is a portion of previous article from Oct 2, 2009 that mentions Neil Gunn:

"...FBI agents are also seeking Police Department records of internal affairs investigations as a result of use-of-force complaints filed as far back as 2003. The 12 officers listed in the subpoena are Omar Rodriguez, Jose Cruz Duran, Neil Thomas Gunn Sr., Christian Dereck Canales, Jon Murphy Jr., Mike George Reyes, Steve Sarkis Karagiosian, Armen Dermenjian, William Hampton “Bill” Taylor, Nick Wayne Nichols, Tommy Perez and Edgar Manuel Penaranda..."
http://www.burbankleader.com/articles/2009/10/03/publicsafety/blr-probes100309.txt

Oct 1, 2209 link to LA Times article
FBI probe of Burbank police focusing on alleged excessive force involving 12 officers

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5:59PM BURBANK LEADER UPDATED ARTICLE

Sergeant shoots himself on residential street

Neil Thomas Gunn Sr., who was listed in recent FBI probe, was pronounced dead at the scene

By Christopher Cadelago
Published: Last Updated Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:59 PM PDT
source

HILLSIDE — A Burbank Police sergeant who was listed in an FBI probe into police misconduct shot himself to death Thursday morning on the corner of a residential street, authorities said.

Burbank Police Sgt. Neil Thomas Gunn Sr., 50, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the corner of North Sunset Canyon Drive and East Harvard Road, Lt. John Dilibert said.

Police were called to the intersection at about 11:40 a.m. after witnesses reported seeing Gunn turn the gun on himself, Sgt. Thor Merich said. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Officers sectioned off several blocks of Sunset Canyon Drive and surrounding streets, shielding views of the body from the public as detectives investigated the scene.

"This incident is a devastating tragedy," Dilibert said in a statement. "The members of the Police Department and all our city employees share in the grief with his family during this difficult time."

A 22-year veteran of the department, Gunn received several commendations for his work, including the Ministerial Officer of the Year in 1992, and two departmental professional esteem awards, one in 1997 and one in 2004.

The U.S. attorney’s office on Sept. 14 issued a grand jury subpoena for personnel records involving 12 members of the Burbank Police Department. The subpoena sought records on “use of force, defensive tactics, Tasers, pepper spray, or the rules and ramifications pertaining to the use of excessive force or a violation of civil/constitutional rights.”

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller earlier this month confirmed that the agency was looking into possible civil rights violations by officers, the results of which would be forwarded to the Department of Justice. She would not specify when the probe began, how long it would last, or expand on why the officers were named in the probe. Several of the officers listed in the probe — Bill Taylor, Omar Rodriguez and Steve Karagiosian — have also filed lawsuits against the Police Department alleging racial discrimination, harassment and on-the-job retaliation.

Residents of the hillside enclave, located below the Castaway Restaurant and DeBell Golf Club, spent the morning outside of their homes calming neighbors who feared they were in danger as detectives confirmed Gunn had shot himself.

Erminio Iacobellis, who lives in the 1000 block of East San Jose Avenue, said he never imagined a high-profile slaying within earshot of his home.

“This doesn’t happen in the city,” Iacobellis said, staring across the police barrier. “Nothing like this happens here.”

The Glendale Police Department is handling the investigation.

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AT 1:38PM THE FIRST BURBANK LEADER STORY WAS THIS...

Man shoots himself to death on street corner

UPDATE: Police section off street, investigation continues

By Christopher Cadelago
Published: Last Updated Thursday, October 29, 2009 1:38 PM PDT
source

HILLSIDE — An unidentified man shot himself to death Thursday morning at the intersection of North Sunset Canyon Drive and East Harvard Road, authorities said.

Police were called to the west corner of the intersection at about 11:40 a.m. after witnesses reported seeing the man turn the gun on himself, Burbank Police Sgt. Thor Merich said.

Officers have sectioned off the 700 block of Sunset Canyon Drive and erected screens to shield views from the public as detectives investigate the scene of the shooting.

Witnesses said the man was heavy-set and had a gunshot wound to the chest, but police would not confirm their accounts.

The number of people who killed themselves in Burbank this year has more than doubled compared with last year, from six to 13, according to police records. Attempts are also up, police said.

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Photo from FOX News




October 30, 2009 UPDATE

We pray for the family and friends of Neil as well as the community of Burbank. May the truth come forth.

MAP

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Following are a few ways to tell murder from suicide: (source)

Where on the body the injury occurred: A shot to the side of the head, in the mouth, or to the front of the chest is usually suicide. Wounds located anywhere else are most likely homicide.

Distance of gun from the body: Most suicide shots are at contact or near contact range, causing a burn mark around the wound and leaving gunpowder residue (which can be wiped off). At contact range, and if the gun is fired just above a bone, such as the skull or the sternum, a star-like wound is produced. Anything further away is likely homicide.

Angle of the shot: Most suicide shots are angled slightly upward.

Number of shots fired: After one shot, even if a suicide victim isn't dead, he would likely be unconscious or physically unable to fire a second time. Multiple shots usually indicate homicide.

Presence of gunpowder residue on victims hand: If a man shot himself, there would be powder residue from unburned carbon on the hand that fired the gun.

Shots through clothing: A suicide victim will rarely shoot through clothing. If he shoots himself in the chest, which is unusual, he will open his shirt to expose the skin. Shots through clothing suggest homicide.

History, a note, other factors: If the victim left a suicide note, or was known to have personal problems, or if there was evidence of drug use or drinking, suicide is likely.

Evidence of a struggle: If there are scratches, cuts, bruises, homicide is likely.

How fast a person dies depends significantly on where the wound is located and how quickly he can get help. A shot to the head might kill, or it might not. A shot to the abdomen might take hours to kill the victim, or he might bleed to death in half that time. A gunshot victim can be rushed to the hospital, have a bullet removed from his abdomen, be well on the road to recovery, then die a week later from some unforeseen infection.
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Found this Burbank Leader article from September 30, 2009:

FBI probes Police Dept.


After relative silence, the City Council Tuesday revealed that the Burbank Police Department was under some stage of investigation by the FBI, Los Angeles County sheriff and an outside attorney over allegations of misconduct within the ranks.

L.A. County Sheriff's Department has also been looking into a range of claims filed against Burbank police.

By Christopher Cadelago
Published: Last Updated Wednesday, September 30, 2009 10:20 AM PDT
source

CITY HALL — Four days after the city released a statement calling the latest lawsuit filed against its Police Department “baseless and disingenuous,” Mayor Gary Bric on Tuesday said the FBI was investigating allegations of misconduct within the ranks.

He also announced that the Burbank Police Department was being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which was to turn over its findings to the county district attorney’s office, and that the city had brought in its own outside attorney to review the allegations.

Seven current and former members of the Burbank Police Department have filed lawsuits since May, claiming everything from unfair demotion and retaliation, to sexual harassment and racial discrimination.

The City Council had remained silent on the legal action building against the city, but Bric on Tuesday blew the lid off the investigations as a way to reassure the public that “the City Council is taking every step possible to make sure all of the issues are identified” and “dealt with in a manner that ensures they are never repeated.”

“These are all very serious allegations, and I think it is clear to everyone that the Police Department is facing some major challenges,” he said at the meeting.

Last week, Capt. Bill Taylor filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming he was unfairly demoted after pushing for internal investigations into allegations of officer misconduct.

It was the latest in a string of legal woes for the department.

A former decorated Japanese American police detective sued the department in July, alleging he was subjected to racial discrimination and retaliation before being unlawfully fired. Attorneys for Christopher Lee Dunn also filed a second lawsuit claiming that City Atty. Dennis Barlow and his deputy disclosed private personnel records to the Burbank Leader “and other members of the press and general public.”

And in May, four officers and one lieutenant filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and sexual harassment.

The influx of lawsuits prompted the Police Commission to meet more frequently.

Department and outside agencies had thoroughly investigated the claims long before the lawsuits were filed.

“In addition to these investigations, the FBI has been conducting their own investigation into these matters, and we are cooperating with their inquiries to the city,” he said.

Reading from a statement approved by the entire City Council, Bric stressed that the majority of men and women in the Police Department were not involved in the allegations.

Last week, the city released a statement responding to Taylor’s lawsuit, contending that the former deputy chief “has chosen to deal with his own personal career disappointments with a lack of leadership and professionalism.”

The change in tone by City Hall drew a quick response Tuesday from Councilman David Gordon, who called for all future news releases to be “professional and measured” in tone and that they be approved by the council prior to release.

Bric added that the council was frustrated that it could not share more detailed information, but that the integrity of the investigations and strict legal rules prevented the council from doing so.

He also sought to reassure the public that city officials were taking the allegations seriously and investigating them fully.

“This may mean some severe consequences for any persons involved in misconduct, but we believe the integrity of our Police Department is extremely important to this community and is our paramount concern,” Bric said.

Click here or see below the full statement from Mayor Gary Bric.

Statement from Mayor Gary Bric
Burbank City Council Meeting
September 29, 2009

There has been a lot of press recently regarding issues at the Burbank Police Department and I’m sure the community is concerned and wants to make sure that these issues are being appropriately dealt with. There have been a number of lawsuits and claims filed that contain multiple allegations of improper conduct ranging from wrongful termination, discrimination and retaliation to abuse of force and various forms of covering up such activities. These are all very serious allegations and I think it is clear to everyone that the police department is facing some major challenges. All of these allegations have arisen from sources within the department or from former members of the department.

As a result of allegations prior to these lawsuits, a number of investigations have been initiated both by the department and by outside entities at the invitation of and with the cooperation of the city. These investigations began long before the filing of the lawsuits and claims mentioned above. Chief Stehr requested the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department come in and perform an independent investigation. The city also began an independent investigation using an outside attorney and an outside investigator, both of whom report directly to the City Attorney and City Manager’s office. Your Burbank City Council has met with the outside attorney in order to confirm that there are no limitations on the scope of the investigation and to indicate that any signs of lack of cooperation by anyone within the city are to be brought to the Council’s attention. The Sheriff’s department requested that the city hold off commencing its investigation until the Sheriff’s investigation was completed. In addition to these investigations, the FBI has been conducting their own investigation into these matters and we are cooperating with their inquiries to the city. It is our understanding that when the Sheriff’s investigation is complete, it will be forwarded by the Sheriff’s department to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. The city’s investigation is now ongoing and includes all of the issues raised by the lawsuits and claims that have been filed and will also include any additional issues that may arise in the future.

While we cannot legally share the details of any of these investigations, we felt it was important to share with you that the issues in the Burbank Police Department are being taken very seriously and investigated by outside independent agencies. These investigations have been taking what seems like a very long time, but the investigators know the seriousness of the allegations and are making sure they do a complete and thorough job. We are frustrated that we cannot share more detailed information with you, but the integrity of the investigations and strict legal rules governing the privacy of police officers that may be under investigation prevent us from making any further comments.

While we know the entire community is disappointed to know that there are issues within the police department, please rest assured that the City Council is taking every step possible to make sure all of the issues are identified and that steps are taken to make sure that any problems that are identified are dealt with in a manner that insures they are never repeated. This may mean some severe consequences for any persons involved in misconduct, but we believe the integrity of our police department is extremely important to this community and is our paramount concern.

With our firm commitment to discover and correct any misdeeds within the police department, I can assure you the majority of the men and women in our police department are not involved in these issues and we would be remiss if we didn’t recognize the excellent job they do protecting the safety of our community during these difficult times.

Mayor Gary Bric
City of Burbank


Reader Comments

hear me wrote on Sep 30, 2009 7:55 AM:
"It's about time that city officals step up to the plate.This is embarrassing to the city of Burbank. Thank you mayor, FBI, and the sheriff's department. For finally listening and stepping in, to find out what's going on in the good ole boys club ,the Burbank police department. Any officers involved in the harassment, should be fired, and made to pay any lawsuits that come of it. Not the taxpayers of Burbank. Thank you.
B.A. on Burbank "

sandy587 wrote on Oct 3, 2009 12:19 AM:

"It's about time someone steps in and REGULATES these unethical, ruthless, liars that serve as THE POLICE in Burbank. They are nothing more than a bunch of bullies who lie and cheat I am not surprised they are being sued by 7 members inside the department, imagine how many citizens have cases against them, or should have cases against them, due to the harrassment , intimidation and eventually false arrests you will receive from these so called cops citizens are afraid to say a word! I know first hand, this time I am not letting it slide-! ...Internal Affairs & the Federal Govt are finally going to do what's needed to be done for a long time - WATCH HOW BPD operates... they'll be disgusted! You GO IA. Thank you! "

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Note the headline in the City of Burbank news report which says, "Man dies..." as opposed to "Burbank Police Officer dies..." It seems so cold-hearted... AND suspcious.

CITY NEWS ROOM

Man dies after self-inflicted gunshot wound
Posted Date: 10/30/2009 11:00 AM

On October 29, 2009, at approximately 11:40 am, Burbank police officers responded to the scene of a reported shot fired/man down call at Sunset Canyon and Harvard Road.

Responding officers found a man down with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Fire department paramedics arrived and pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

The victim was identified as 50-year old, Neil T. Gunn, a 22-year veteran and Patrol Sergeant with the Burbank Police Department. During his career, Gunn received numerous commendations for his work, including the Ministerial Officer of the Year in 1992, and two departmental Professional Esteem awards, one in 1997 and the second in 2004.

This incident is a devastating tragedy. The members of the police department and all our city employees share in the grief with his family during this difficult time.

The Glendale Police Department is handling the investigation into Sergeant Gunn’s death.

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TOPIX COMMENTS
Note: Please read with critical thinking and discernment as agents provocateur and shill are known to mislead/confuse/attack/name-call on message boards.

Burbank police officer commits suicide on public street

Burbank officer listed in FBI probe kills self

FBI investigating misconduct allegations at Burbank Police Department

FBI focuses on excessive-force claims in probe of Burbank police

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VERY INTERESTING MUST READ BLOG POST!
City Attorney Barlow is celebrating Gunn’s suicide (and update)

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source:

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November 12, 2009 UPDATE

Received these photos taken yesterday, Nov 11th