MEMO SPARKS INVESTIGATION

Glendale News Press
July 24 2008
CA

Police Department says employee has been disciplined for making flier
that targets Armenians.

By Veronica Rocha Published: Last Updated Wednesday, July 23, 2008
10:31 PM PDT

GLENDALE — Police are investigating the actions of a department
employee who reportedly created a false memo and a doctored image of
a patrol car covered in Armenian flags, city officials said.

The employee was disciplined for creating the "simulated" memo,
which appeared to be from the office of Police Chief Randy Adams.

The employee created the image of a patrol car that also had the
word "Vostikan," which means police in Armenian, placed over it,
City Manager Jim Starbird said at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

Police and city departments have "zero tolerance of any matters
concerning discrimination or harassment and this certainly falls in
that category," Starbird said.

The memo and image weren’t composed at the Police Department, but
they were seen by department employees.

"The document and its creation and any inference in that, isn’t
appropriate, isn’t tolerated and isn’t consistent with any of the
policies that are in the Police Department and any city department,"
Starbird said. "It was followed up and action has been taken."

The employee received "significant" discipline, but Starbird didn’t
disclose details.

The disclosure of the memo and the image was isolated and not
widespread throughout the department, Police Chief Randy Adams said.

The employee was apologetic about creating the documents, Adams said.

The employee indicated the documents were created to provide humor,
such as a political cartoon, and weren’t meant to be disparaging,
he said.

Adams said the department conducted an internal investigation and
disciplined the employee.

Adams described the documents as "poor judgment and a poor attempt
at humor."

The Police Department, he said, has no tolerance for harassment.

"All employees treat each other with the outmost dignity and respect,"
he said.

An attorney was hired several weeks ago to investigate the incident,
Councilman Ara Najarian said.

The memo was disclosed by community activist Richard Espiritu during
the oral communications portion of the council meeting. Espiritu told
council members he uncovered the public documents in a Superior Court
case file.

"I have found this through my own means," he said.

The memo and photo had been discussed during a council closed session
meeting, Councilman Frank Quintero said.

"I am stunned to see a closed session item on the screen," Quintero
said during Tuesday’s council meeting. "I am just very surprised to
see that it falls into the hands of a citizen."

The memo and image hurt people in the Police Department, and
showing the items during the meeting will continue to offend people,
Starbird said.

Najarian wished the photo had not been displayed on the screen "and
broadcasted throughout the city," he said.

"I hope that this flier was made as a joke, but it’s still very
offensive to me both as an Armenian and a member of the city council,"
Najarian said.

Further details on what was on the memo were not made available.