Vote Could Affect Police Chief’s Future

As South Pasadena Police Chief Thomas Mahoney remains on paid leave, the City Council is scheduled to vote today on a new policy for disciplining or firing its police chief.

City Manager Sean Joyce said the policy is one of many he is revising and, if approved, will apply to any police chief, including Mahoney.

Joyce, who has the power to fire Mahoney, refused to speculate on the chief’s tenure, saying it is a confidential personnel matter.

Nonetheless, he said, the policy will bring the city into line with state requirements on dismissing police chiefs. “To fire a police chief we need to have this policy in place under the Police Officers’ Bill of Rights,” Joyce said.

Mahoney, 49, went on a stress-related leave in August and filed a workers’ compensation claim alleging hypertension and gastrointestinal injuries throughout his 23-year career.

His leave came as an investigation of his embattled department was launched by city officials.

The probe by an outside investigator, which is ongoing, came after The Times reported on a local woman who said she had sexual relations with two officers while they were on duty. It was also reported that a September 1995 hit-and-run crash involving a politically well-connected officer was allegedly covered up.

Mahoney, whose status was changed to paid administrative leave in December, did not return a telephone call to his home for comment Tuesday.

Under the proposed policy, a police chief would have five days to respond in writing to a termination notice from the city manager and would be allowed to appeal the decision to a hearing officer.

City Hall insiders have said Mahoney’s job is in jeopardy and the results of the investigation by Lewis Partners, which are expected by the end of the month, could decide his future.

In Mahoney’s absence, the city manager in October appointed Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Capt. John E. Anderson acting chief.