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Los Angeles News
Family: Burbank Police caused suicide
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
ABC News
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City News ServiceBURBANK, Calif. (CNS) -- The family of a 50-year-old Burbank police officer Tuesday blamed the department's chief and other department and city officials for his suicide.
Sgt. Neil Thomas Gunn was found around 11:40 a.m. Thursday near Sunset Canyon and Harvard Road with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and pronounced dead at the scene, said Lt. John Dilibert of the Burbank Police Department.
Gunn, 50, was listed in an FBI probe into misconduct by the Burbank Police Department, the Burbank Leader reported.
Gunn's widow Tina Gunn told the Los Angeles Times, in a story posted on its Web site today, that the department's leaders and union failed to support him against use-of-force allegations, effectively ruining his career and leaving him "brokenhearted."
"They had everything to do with what happened," Tina Gunn told The Times. "My husband felt that no matter what he did, he was going to be the fall guy because he was the one who spoke out.
"He took (the allegations) very hard. They were trying to portray my husband as something he was not. He was a good man. He was beyond clean. The department turned its back on him."
Along with the FBI investigation, two other probes are being conducted into the department, City Attorney Dennis Barlow told The Times. Barlow said he would examine their results when they become available.
Gunn's brother, Chris Topolovich, said Tuesday night he committed suicide "to shine a bright light on a problem in Burbank."
"He gave up his family to shine a bright light on a big problem in Burbank and nobody would listen," Topolovich, a former Burbank police officer, said outside Burbank City Hall.
At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, City Councilman David Gordon requested that Police Chief Tim Stehr be placed on administrative leave, saying "we have a city that's been traumatized," but none of his four colleagues supported the request.
Gunn was a 22-year-veteran and patrol sergeant with the Burbank Police Department, Dilibert said. He received numerous commendations for his work, including the Ministerial Officer of the Year in 1992, and two departmental Professional Esteem awards.
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Watch last night's city council meeting
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EVENING UPDATE
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The 818 Now
VIDEO: Sgt. Gunn’s family talks to the media
Written by Times Community News
November 4, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Chris Topolovich, Sgt. Neil Gunn’s brother (blog edit: not brother-in-law), talks to the media following a Burbank City Council meeting on Tuesday.
Burbank City Councilman David Gordon on Tuesday called on his colleagues to direct the city manager to place Police Chief Tim Stehr on administrative leave amid an FBI investigation into police misconduct and a growing stack of lawsuits against the city.
Citing the recent public suicide of police Sgt. Neil Thomas Gunn, who was named in an FBI probe into police misconduct along with several other officers, Gordon said the City Council had a “moral and legal responsibility” to place Stehr on leave until the investigations were concluded.
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The Burbank Leader
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Burbank Leader Article
Police chief called out
Councilman says department leader should be put on leave in light of controversy.
By Christopher Cadelago
Published: Last Updated Wednesday, November 4, 2009 10:28 AM PST
CITY HALL — In front of the bereaved family of a police sergeant who killed himself last week, Burbank City Councilman David Gordon on Tuesday called on his colleagues to direct the city manager to place Police Chief Tim Stehr on administrative leave amid an FBI investigation into police misconduct and a growing stack of lawsuits against the city.
Citing the recent public suicide of police Sgt. Neil Thomas Gunn, who was named in an FBI probe into police misconduct along with several other officers, Gordon said the City Council had a “moral and legal responsibility” to place Stehr on leave until the investigations were concluded.
“The stress and tension in our Police Department has understandably become toxic,” Gordon said. “We cannot close our eyes or cover our ears to what is going on.”
Gunn died Thursday of a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the chest at the corner of North Sunset Canyon Drive and East Harvard Road, said Lt. Larry Dietz of the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.
Gordon’s comments were met with repeated applause from a chamber packed with Burbank police officers, many of whom joined the Gunn family in a candlelight vigil outside the steps of the police station.
The group, carrying a large portrait of Gunn and candles bearing his name and badge number, marched up the steps of City Hall before the council meeting.
Stehr’s “actions and inactions” pushed the Police Department “to the brink of disaster,” said Burbank Police Lt. Omar Rodriguez, a 22-year member of the department who is on leave.
Although FBI officials would not expand on why the officers were named in the probe into civil rights violations and excessive use of force, several of the officers listed in the investigation — Rodriguez, Bill Taylor and Steve Karagiosian — have also filed lawsuits against the city alleging racial discrimination, harassment and on-the-job retaliation.
The City Council took no formal action on Gordon’s proposal after City Atty. Dennis Barlow questioned the legality of the request.
Council members, arguing that they had yet to receive any information linking the chief to police misconduct, made clear they had no intention of declaring an emergency order.
“I don’t believe there is an emergency,” Councilman Dave Golonski said. “I can’t help but feel that you’re grandstanding.”
Vice Mayor Anja Reinke characterized Gordon’s request as hasty and later bemoaned the applause and jeers in council chambers as a “three-ring circus.”
“I think it’s a little vigilante, to be honest,” she said.
Dozens of Gunn’s friends and family members made their way to the front steps of City Hall where they briefly memorialized the life of the 22-year department veteran whose list of commendations included Ministerial Officer of the Year in 1992 and two Professional Esteem awards.
Remembered as a dedicated officer who mentored up-and-comers, Gunn’s brother (blog edit: not brother-in-law) and longtime motor officer Chris Topolovich blamed the Police Department and union officials for failing to offer the sergeant adequate support.
Just days before committing suicide, Topolovich said a heartbroken Gunn had asked why people hated him so much.
“My brother was the victim of retaliation for defending officers falsely accused of wrongdoing,” Topolovich said at the news conference outside City Hall.
Gunn was married to Tina Gunn, who works in the Burbank city manager’s office, and his son, Neil Jr., began in the department as a police cadet.
“No matter what he did, he was going to be the fall guy,” Topolovich said. “Because he was the one who stood up.”
Gunn was named in a federal subpoena for the personnel records of 12 officers. The subpoena specified information related to use-of-force issues and possible civil rights violations.
FBI agents also sought police internal affairs investigations initiated in response to use-of-force complaints dating back to 2003. Topolovich maintained that Gunn was “a good man” and “beyond clean.” Neil Jr., who looked on in uniform, joined in an emotional family hug before the flashing lights of media.
“Please,” said Topolovich, who spoke for the family Tuesday. “No more dead bodies in the city of Burbank.”
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Original Post:
Burbank Police Sergeant in FBI Probe Killed
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