Burbank police chief decides to step down

Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr announced Monday he will retire Dec. 31. Stehr's retirement announcement comes six days after City Councilman David Gordon requested that he be placed on administrative leave in connection with three investigations into the department and the suicide of Sgt.

[Alicia]

There is a very fine line in between the rights of the criminals and the police actions. Burbank is a very nice city and the Burbank Police Department is doing a great job. I am in favor of the police actions, the officers are human beings and able to make mistakes in a moment of adrenaline rush, in the other hand, criminals are planning their wrong actions.
Please stop rewarding wrong behavior.

[Alicia]

There is a very fine line in between the rights of the criminals and the police actions. Burbank is a very nice city and the Burbank Police Department is doing a great job. I am in favor of the police actions, the officers are human beings and able to make mistakes in a moment of adrenaline rush, in the other hand, criminals are planning their wrong actions affecting our lives daily.
Please stop rewarding wrong behavior.

[Mike]

Why don't you post his picture. With all the corruption this dept has displayed under his leadership, his picture should be shown. Afterall, he WAS a public official.

Shame on him!

[Greasy Tony Villar]

Cry Me a RIVER of tears...Everyone knows that the Burbank Police Department is corrupted at its core.

[sheadogg21]

Maybe nobody defended Mr. Gunn because they knew him to be guilty. I dont know anything about this group of cops, but I have seen some pieces of work over the years in different cities. I can imagine that this department could have it's share of wankers. Cops have a difficult and dangerous job, but the bad cops make it even more unsafe when the bad guys become more aggresive because of unfair treatment, and the good citizens lose respect for them all and are less willing to defend a person simply because they wear a badge. Typical of the downward slide the world is in.

[Not in LA Anymore]

And the guilty run,figures.

[Snicker]

sheadogg21, perhaps no one spoke up for Sgt Gunn, because they were AFRAID?

[3MTA3U]

Oh you should see the looks on some of these Burbank PD Officers! You can almost tell who feels guilty and who hasn't been involved. The FBI has some of these guys freaking out! Couple of retired Officers seem a little worried too. I don't feel bad for these people if they get named. However, there are several on the force who will feel relieved, and rightfully so, because they'll be able to do their jobs without feeling they'll be blackballed by corrupt veterans of this department. Go FBI!

[Joe Smith]

I am a life long Burbank resident. I want to say that most people I know have never had a run in with the police. And as far as I know, most Burbank cops are good people. However, there has always been whispers of some serious corruption going on within the dept. I hope the FBI comes in and helps get rid of these rotten apples.

[Concerned Citizen]

What a mofo this Chief is, glad he's stepping down!

[Mike]

I am white, but I can tell you, the Burbank Police Department is extremely racist. I was following a black friend of mine who was taking his old car to a mechanic in Burbank. Driving the speed limit. They pulled him over and hassled him for almost 30 minutes, asking him unrelated questions, just ridiculous. When they saw me get out of my car, they cut him loose. Never gave him a ticket because they had no treason to. But once he dropped his car off, and we were driving back to North Hollywood, they got right behind me so close if I hit my breaks there would have been a collision. Just hassling me for no reason. Anyone, especially black or hispanics, who drives through Burbank with an "old" or "beat up" looking car, they pull over, unbelieveably hassle for several minutes, and if they can't find any reason to give a ticket (which is most of the time) they intimidate. Horrible police department.

[Anthony]

All I can say is "Hale to the Chief". Good for you Chief Stehr, It is obvious that the division is to much, and you care to much about the success of this department. What really blows my mind is the lack of support by the city council. To Dr. Gordon, you are a disgrace to the city of Burbank and I hope you will never be reelected to the counsel ever again.

And by the way it was not even legal your great idea to put the Chief on administrative leave!!! Where were the facts? Did you know by doing this you showed more of a division of support? Maybe you should stick to optometrey. Speaking of which, I heard that Mr. Gordon knowingly violated the law by voting for vision contracts that would directly benefit his optometry business.

Wow how did you get voted in? To the Gunn Family, you may place blame now but when all the facts come out, you will have no one to blame except Mr. Gunn.

Burbank is losing a great dedicated Chief in Stehr, but all I can say is he has taken enough abuse and can do bigger and better things in the future.

Good luck!

[Anthony]

Mike wrote:

Why don't you post his picture. With all the corruption this dept has displayed under his leadership, his picture should be shown. Afterall, he WAS a public official.
Shame on him!

Mike, who are you talking about? If it is the Chief, his leadership was only two years, he has been dealing with this crap the second he stepped into his office. It was already there, If you only knew!!

[Good Riddance]

I hope he has at least one bullet in his side arm

[Anthony]

Greasy Tony Villar wrote:

Cry Me a RIVER of tears...Everyone knows that the Burbank Police Department is corrupted at its core.

Tony, don't get crazy, the whole department is not corrupt. The chief made a mistake when he trusted some Key individuals, Omar etc. Hopefully the new chief who doesnt know these individuals so well and is not personally involed can clean house.

[Anthony]

Not in LA Anymore wrote:

And the guilty run,figures.

I am curious, guilty of what, doing his job?

[GAGA]

Neil Gunn was a scary individual who was not mentally balanced it seems. It also seems as if he is diverting attention from himself by blaming the city and the chief for his problems. Retaliation seems to be a common theme of defense for these officers. If he was innocent why not wait for the findings to come out. These cops were not being persecuted but unfortuneately involved in a bad situation. I think that the Chief did what he had to do under the circumstances, I am sure he had no intentions of retiring like this but it seems thought it was the best for the department. I respect his decision and hope that the department can heal now that he is gone and will have to deal with a chief that is not emotionally involved.

[Burbank 91504]

I have lived in this city for 54 years and I have never been as disgusted as when I watched the City council meeting last week. It was embarrassing to listen to Dr. Gordon stand up and suggest that the Chief of police be put on leave. Is he just ignorant or is he looking to promote himself for something, because it was ludicrous. Not only was it completely out of order but I would imagine anyone that represents the city, legally would have cringed to hear such an outrageous statement understanding the cities legal obligation to the Chief and his employment. If anyone should sue the city, he should for taking the heat for all that is going on in the city. That the Chief is responsible for an officer taking his own life? What a farce and Gordon was totally transparent. His own colleagues(that have brains) corrected him and called his statement out of order but the damage was done. How could they not stand up for the Chief knowing that he was only doing his job and that there was an investigation going on that he could not talk about and that he could not talk about what was really happening.. The Council knew all the facts yet Gordon called him out in the most ridiculous way. Who is this Gordon guy? He seems like a liability to the city and I would suggest he step down. I will make it a point to get out and help campaign against him in any upcoming election. What a jerk.No wonder this city can't get anything done properly. They do not support their administration and it's leaders. This is a great city with an outstanding police force. What a shame to lose someone who has served there for over 30 years. I cant wait to see what happens when an interim person comes in. I will be laughing at the scramble.

[Burbank 91504]

Mike wrote:

Why don't you post his picture. With all the corruption this dept has displayed under his leadership, his picture should be shown. Afterall, he WAS a public official.
Shame on him!

All the corruption? What corruption has been legally identified? The Chief is not being mentioned in any corruption investigation I read about. Can you show me? Are you going to tell me that all this happened in the last two years under the current Chief. Do you think we are all stupid?

[Burbank 91504]

Mike wrote:

Why don't you post his picture. With all the corruption this dept has displayed under his leadership, his picture should be shown. Afterall, he WAS a public official.
Shame on him!

Who's picture? The officers being investigated? I don't think you can (legally)do that. I just saw a picture of the Chief, so you must not mean him. I don't think he is hiding anything nor have I heard him accused of anything.Read his letter to the press. I think we have all the info we need right there.You have to read between the lines of what has been in the press. It is pretty clear there are cops under investigation and they dont want to be found guilty. They blame the Chief for the investigation. How lame is that? The one that killed himself was the only honest one. He knew he was guilty and killed himself rather than face the jury. Very sad...The majority of the cops, and probably even the ones under investigation have given dedicated, service for many years. They just got carried away .