Council colleagues puzzled by Conlosh’s actions

Angelique Flores

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- Councilman Chuck Conlosh’s recent resignation from

the Huntington Beach Police Department and admittance into a local

psychiatric hospital has baffled his colleagues at City Hall.

After 13 years of serving on the force, Conlosh resigned for personal

reasons Friday, said Lt. Chuck Thomas, a spokesman for the Huntington

Beach Police Department.

Later that day, Conlosh, 35, admitted himself into the psychiatric

ward of College Hospital in Costa Mesa.

“It’s unfortunate,” Mayor Larry Crandall said. “This is time to be

compassionate. If [Conlosh] is in need of some treatment, we should give

him that treatment and give him time to recover. What caused that? Nobody

knows.”

Officials don’t know how long Conlosh will remain in the hospital. He

declined to comment while he’s still in the hospital.

“We’re waiting to hear from Huntington Beach -- if they can tell us

anything,” Councilman John Collins said.

Conlosh did not attend the last Fountain Valley City Council meeting,

Jan. 16, because he was ill, Councilwoman Laurann Cook said. The council

is expected to meet again Feb. 6.

“The main thing is that we want Chuck to get well,” Cook said. “We

don’t know what’s wrong.”

Last year, Conlosh battled with city officials over his allegations of

their wrongdoing. He was also questioned by his colleagues about his

practice of placing his service revolver in a belt pack and keeping it on

the dais during council meetings. Conlosh faced more controversy in

October for not filing campaign finance statements for 1997 and 1998.

Conlosh was reelected to a second council term in November. He was

next in line for the mayor’s seat but declined the job in November. He

said he would be unable to represent the city at many of the social

engagements that require a mayoral presence because of his heavy work

schedule.

In 1999, a federal jury rejected allegations of excessive force, false

arrest and malicious prosecution against Conlosh. The decade-old suit

brought against him and fellow officer Sgt. John Cottriel was one of two

suits against him. Conlosh faced another trial the same year for a

separate incident involving a canine biting that occurred in 1990.