LONG BEACH : Assistant Police Chief Files for Stress Retirement

A Long Beach assistant police chief who went on sick leave while he was being investigated by the city manager has filed for stress-related disability retirement.

Eugene Brizzolara, who has been on paid sick leave since December, said in a medical claim that job pressures made him “irritable, angry and short-tempered” and caused him sleeplessness, stomach cramps and headaches.

Citing conflicts with the Police Officers Assn., death threats and lawsuits, Brizzolara said he was under so much stress that he kept a shotgun in his office and was planning to place a metal plate on his office door until then-Chief Lawrence L. Binkley stopped him, according to the claim.

Brizzolara, 53, also filed for a regular service retirement, effective June 1, said William Storey, city personnel director.

Either retirement package would pay Brizzolara, a 30-year veteran of the department, 75% of his $93,433 annual salary, officials said. But a disability retirement, if granted, would make half of the salary tax-exempt, a police spokesman said.

Medical evaluations will determine whether Brizzolara will be granted the disability retirement, Assistant City Atty. Bob Shannon said.