Suspension Is Overturned for LAPD Spokesman

A five-day suspension of the Los Angeles Police Department’s chief spokesman was overturned after an internal appeals board Monday found there was not enough evidence to show he made an improper remark to a female officer.

Cmdr. Tim McBride, who is in charge of explaining to the public the department’s “zero tolerance” stance against sexual harassment, had been accused of saying “Hi, babe” while greeting a subordinate officer in 1995.

After a two-day hearing and three hours of deliberations, the three-member panel unanimously rejected the suspension, which Chief Willie L. Williams ordered after sustaining the complaint from Officer Elizabeth Hatter.

“Whatever was said--and we have insufficient evidence to conclude that the words ‘Hi, babe’ were even used--there was no objectifying, there was no misogyny, there was no patronizing, no denigration, no demeaning of this employee,” said Deputy Chief Mark Kroeker, one of the panelists.

Kroeker said the panel--which included Cmdr. Scott LaChasse and a civilian member--found Hatter’s testimony about the incident and other alleged harassment at the department “less than credible.”

McBride declined to comment, but his attorney said the panel’s action was a vindication.

“His character and credibility were on the line and that’s what he wanted so desperately to be restored and that’s what the board did today,” attorney Barry Levin said.

Hatter, who is suing the LAPD because of the McBride incident and other discriminatory acts she allegedly suffered in the department, could not be reached for comment.

The ruling, however, was immediately denounced by two women’s rights groups that have been pressuring the department to take a stronger stand against sexual harassment and discrimination.

“It’s an example of ‘Men Against Women’ in this department at its finest,” said Katherine Spillar, national coordinator for the Feminist Majority, referring to an informal anti-female group that former Det. Mark Fuhrman alleged existed within the department. “The department has sexual harassment even at the highest levels and they can’t get rid of it by just covering it up.”

Penny Harrington, director of the National Center for Women and Policing, said the ruling “confirms everything we’ve known about the LAPD for years: They don’t treat woman with respect or consider them as equals in policing.”

Kroeker said he did not want the outcome in the McBride case to discourage others from coming forward with complaints.

“We want to encourage people to bring them forward. We don’t want to send a wrong message,” Kroeker said. “We focused on one simple case here. . . . This was in no way sweeping anything under the rug.”