Hollywood close to settling with fired police chief

Hollywood The city could soon settle its 11-year legal battle with former Police Chief Richard Witt, who claims he was fired in 1996 because he was trying to clean up corruption in the department.

[All Clear]

Seems to me Witt was fired for doing the right thing.

[Mike I]

This all could have been settled in the very beginning if a nut of a City Manager(Sam Finz)who was the root cause of such a mess and more to come was removed from office at that time rather then later by the Commission. Finz paid Stone well in excess of $100k just to go and keep his mouth shut. Makes one wonder what he was afraid Witt might say if given the chance. Juries agreed at each trial.

[COPS ARE NEVER WRONG]

"COPS DO NOT RAT ON COPS" & "I WILL LIE AND COVER FOR YOU, AND YOU DO THE SAME FOR ME" He did not follow the rules and should have been fired. Just who the H-ll does he think he is (Chief) to be doing his job. This is the cops, we are deserving of lots of money and no work. All we do is lie for each other and cover up for each other. He broke the rules and should get nothing. The cops that lie for each other should get all the money. This goes double for HollyHood.

[Get Real]

Chief Wit was another dysfunctional drunkard chief. He is a womanizer and a cheater on his wife. He was able to keep the P.D. out of the press longer than any other chief but he was still a drunk and allowed allot of illegal activities to occur. That department had a good old boy culture that he tried to tame but caused more problems in the long run. He was also one of the best lier's you could ever watch. He himself caused all the problems in that department. Again the citizens will pay for Mara and her gang of hirees of the past.

[bubba]

mess with the bull you get the horns!

[Bill Wynn - HPD Retired]

This is a matter that should have been settled 11 years ago. But the city, in its infinite wisdom decided to battle this issue and yes they lost in the long run. Now is not the time for the city and especially the police department to have more disgrace brought upon itself. It is time to close this chapter and get on with bigger and better matters. Now is the time to reconstruct and rehabilitate the police department.
I congratulate those with the city who decide to resolve this legal battle, because the city probably will have lost for the third time.

[Andi]

Get Real wrote:

Chief Wit was another dysfunctional drunkard chief. He is a womanizer and a cheater on his wife. He was able to keep the P.D. out of the press longer than any other chief but he was still a drunk and allowed allot of illegal activities to occur. That department had a good old boy culture that he tried to tame but caused more problems in the long run. He was also one of the best lier's you could ever watch. He himself caused all the problems in that department. Again the citizens will pay for Mara and her gang of hirees of the past.

Not siding with Witt or anyone else for that matter....but just using your logic of a womanizer & a drunk....I could think of a lot of other people that fall under those 2 categories.......

[seahorse]

HMMMM, can you say Frank Serpico?

[another cop]

Bill Wynn - HPD Retired wrote:

This is a matter that should have been settled 11 years ago. But the city, in its infinite wisdom decided to battle this issue and yes they lost in the long run. Now is not the time for the city and especially the police department to have more disgrace brought upon itself. It is time to close this chapter and get on with bigger and better matters. Now is the time to reconstruct and rehabilitate the police department.
I congratulate those with the city who decide to resolve this legal battle, because the city probably will have lost for the third time.

Maybe they should offer him $600,000 and ask him to come back and finish the job he tried to start. seem to me Hollywood PD could use a little change.

[Glad to be gone]

Get Real wrote:

Chief Wit was another dysfunctional drunkard chief. He is a womanizer and a cheater on his wife. He was able to keep the P.D. out of the press longer than any other chief but he was still a drunk and allowed allot of illegal activities to occur. That department had a good old boy culture that he tried to tame but caused more problems in the long run. He was also one of the best lier's you could ever watch. He himself caused all the problems in that department. Again the citizens will pay for Mara and her gang of hirees of the past.

Jimmy Jones is that you? Sounds like you making your diary reading. He should have fired you when he had the chance (Multiple cahnces) now your Scarberry's problem.

[Witts Fan]

"Get real" YOU are the loser here. Chief Witt was the greatest Chief I've known. He TRIED to get the job done, but thanks to the PBA and FINZ, he was unable to. Congrats Chief, you only asked for pennies!!! I feel sory for all of you citizens of Hollywood, look what they are paying him now.

[Glad to be gone]

Amen

[Russ Cormican HPD Retired]

The City of Hollywood is really getting by on the cheap, if they can settle this case for $300,000. They lost the first two cases, with the jury coming back in favor of Chief Witt, in just a matter of minutes. This next trial would have cost the poor taxpayer, twice the amount that they are settling for.
Did you know that Chief Witt was called out of retirement three different times to serve as Interim Chief, in agencies that were looking for quality leadership? Apparently a number of cities saw something in Witt's leadership and mentoring ability that Hollywood missed.
Many of the programs that Chief Witt started at HPD are still very successful today. He demanded that his entire command staff have at least a Masters Degree. Over twenty five supervisors that were developed and mentored by Chief Witt have gone on to serve in command positions at other agencies around the country.
Perhaps the Hollywood City Commission should consider bringing Chief Witt back in some capacity to help restore the public's confidence in the Hollywood Police Department. Chief Witt was by far the most progressive and professional chief the city has every had. LONG LIVE THE HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF WITT!!

[Sharp Cheddar Cheese]

It's about time that Hollywood antes up and settles this mess. Witt won twice and we all know that he would have won again. With legal fees and all costs, this mess has probably cost the taxpayers of Hollywood over a half-million dollars, untold loss of credibility (Mara & Co.), bad press, etc. And here, now, today, everyone knows that former Chief Witt was right all along. Yes, he will be vindicated and finally paid for the damages because of that moron Finz. See Sam, he was right and you were wrong. Wrong about what Witt was doing, wrong about most of your duties at Hollywood. Who hired that moron anyway?

See Dick run [to the bank!]. See Mara & Sam pay. See Dick at the Country Club enjoying himself. See Mara, don't you wish you kept your Dick? Now, Sam has no Dick...So sad.

[sgt whoopass]

Witt was and still is the best ive ever seen no bs about him at all straight shooter all the way.Instead of a true leader they always lean towards a used car salesman.Get your money uncle dick and god bless you and your family.

[Dyslexia]

Glad to be gone wrote:

<quoted text>
Jimmy Jones is that you? Sounds like you making your diary reading. He should have fired you when he had the chance (Multiple cahnces) now your Scarberry's problem.

Actually, I doubt he bothers to read this crap. He's probably busy hitting your mother (or daughter) in the third input right now.

[jan]

COPS ARE NEVER WRONG wrote:

"COPS DO NOT RAT ON COPS" & "I WILL LIE AND COVER FOR YOU, AND YOU DO THE SAME FOR ME" He did not follow the rules and should have been fired. Just who the H-ll does he think he is (Chief) to be doing his job. This is the cops, we are deserving of lots of money and no work. All we do is lie for each other and cover up for each other. He broke the rules and should get nothing. The cops that lie for each other should get all the money. This goes double for HollyHood.

This statement shows real intelligence. NOT!!!!!!!

[Malabu]

Serves the city right for trying to hide corruption.

[Retired Police Lt]

Chief Witt was good for Hollywood. Too bad they didn't see it. Now look at the mess the Department is in. Do the right thing and settle.

[Glad to be gone]

Right on all points except they already paid his Attorney half a million. She has not submitted her final bill, plus his settlement!!! Congrats Mara, instead of paying $50,000 for the finest Chief the City will ever see, you cost the city ONE MILLION...