Photo: Melanie Sochan/The Saginaw News

“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” continued to outshine the competition at the Box Office over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The latest installment of the romantic fantasy series raked in an estimated $42.5 million to hold onto the title of number one movie in the U.S for a second straight week.

Female moviegoers are credited with keeping “New Moon” and the second place finisher “The Blind Side ” in the top spots.  ”The Blind Side,” a sports drama, earned around $40.1 million. In third, the disaster blockbuster “2012″ with about $18 million, bringing its three week domestic total to nearly $139 million.

“Old Dogs” is the only new flick that managed to crack the top five. The comedy landed in fourth with  $16.8 million. The film stars John Travolta and Robin Williams as a couple of friends who have their lives turned upside down when they become caregivers for a set of 7-year-old twins.  Among the supporting cast, Travolta’s wife, Kelly Preston, daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, and the late actor/comic, Bernie Mac.

In the fifth slot, Disney’s  “A Christmas Carol” with an estimated $16 million. 

Black Friday is the official kick-off for the holiday shopping season. Thousands of sleep deprived, but eager bargain hunters stormed the stores, malls, and outlet centers before dawn today — traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. Cash registers were ringing all day long and into the evening giving the appearance of strong Black Friday sales. Nevertheless, it’s going to take a few days before retailers know if this is going to be a jolly season for them.

At this early stage, there is one clear gift winner: The Twilight Saga. At the top of the list of a lot of die hard fans of teenager Bella Swan and her vampire lover, Edward Cullen, are the Barbie dolls created in the image of the fictional couple. The limited edition dolls went on sale this month.

Meanwhile, the second movie based on the “Twilight” novels blew-up gigantic at the Box Office last week. “New Moon” made $143 million in this country alone last weekend and earned an estimated $40-50 million more by the end of the day on Thanksgiving.

Now moviegoers and book lovers are making the dash to find the Bella and Edward dolls. I have seen some for sale online for around $25 each, but who knows what the price of the dolls will be in a couple of weeks if demand outpaces the supply. Besides the collector dolls and the movie tickets, ”Twilight” inspired jewelry, calendars, board games, and clothes are being snatched up by fans as well. Oh, and “Twilight” books are still hot sellers as well. Author Stephenie Meyer’s “The Twilight Saga Collection” — which has been in the top 100 for more than a year—  is in the top 10 on both the Barnes & Noble and Amazon websites today.

Official White House Photo/Peter Souza — Yesterday President Obama, First Lady Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha helped distribute food for Thanksgiving to the needy at Martha’s Table, a food pantry in Washington, D.C.

Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Thursday, November 26, 2009

For centuries, in peace and in war, in prosperity and in adversity, Americans have paused at this time of year to gather with loved ones and give thanks for life’s blessings. This week, we carry on this distinctly American tradition.  All across our country, folks are coming together to spend time with family, to catch up with old friends, to cook and enjoy a big dinner – and maybe to watch a little football in between.

As always, we give thanks for the kindness of loved ones, for the joys of the previous year, and for the pride we feel in our communities and country. We keep in our thoughts and prayers the many families marking this Thanksgiving with an empty seat – saved for a son or daughter, or husband or wife, stationed in harm’s way. And we say a special thanks for the sacrifices those men and women in uniform are making for our safety and freedom, and for all those Americans who enrich the lives of our communities through acts of kindness, generosity and service.

But as much as we all have to be thankful for, we also know that this year millions of Americans are facing very difficult economic times. Many have lost jobs in this recession – the worst in generations. Many more are struggling to afford health care premiums and house payments, let alone to save for an education or retirement. Too many are wondering if the dream of a middle class life – that American Dream – is slipping away.  It’s the worry I hear from folks across the country; good, hard-working people doing the best they can for their families – but fearing that their best just isn’t good enough. These are not strangers.  They are our family, our friends, and our neighbors. Their struggles must be our concern.

That’s why we passed the Recovery Act that cut taxes for 95 percent of working people and for small businesses – and that extended unemployment benefits and health coverage for millions of Americans who lost their jobs in this turmoil.  That’s why we are reforming the health care system so that middle-class families have affordable insurance that cannot be denied because of a pre-existing condition or taken away because you happen to get sick. We’ve worked to stem the tide of foreclosures and to stop the decline in home values. We’re making it easier to save for retirement and more affordable to send a son or daughter to college.

The investments we have made and tough steps we have taken have helped break the back of the recession, and now our economy is finally growing again.  But as I said when I took office, job recovery from this crisis would not come easily or quickly. Though the job losses we were experiencing earlier this year have slowed dramatically, we’re still not creating enough new jobs each month to make up for the ones we’re losing.  And no matter what the economists say, for families and communities across the country, this recession will not end until we completely turn that tide.

So we’ve made progress. But we cannot rest – and my administration will not rest – until we have revived this economy and rebuilt it stronger than before; until we are creating jobs and opportunities for middle class families; until we have moved beyond the cycles of boom and bust – of reckless risk and speculation – that led us to so much crisis and pain these past few years.

Next week, I’ll be meeting with owners of large and small businesses, labor leaders, and non-for-profits from across the country, to talk about the additional steps we can take to help spur job creation. I will work with the Congress to enact them quickly. And it is my fervent hope – and my heartfelt expectation – that next Thanksgiving we will be able to celebrate the fact that many of those who have lost their jobs are back at work, and that as a nation we will have come through these difficult storms stronger and wiser and grateful to have reached a brighter day.

Thank you, God bless you, and from my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank

Looking for bargains this Thanksgiving week? Head for the malls or shopping centers, but don’t expect to find great deals at the local gasoline pumps.  If you’re hitting the road for Thanksgiving take along some extra cash or plan on swiping your credit card a few times, because the trip is going to cost ya!

Last night, I bought almost 7 gallons of regular at the Conoco Phillips 76 station at Alameda Avenue and Victory Boulevard in Burbank for about 20 bucks. The price per gallon: $2.89 . A check of the AAA Fuel Gauge Report shows the average price in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area stands at $2.95 today. This time last year, the average here in the Southland was $2.18 per gallon, a bargain considering the pump prices now.

Statewide, the average is $2.93, according to the survey. Nationwide, the average price of regular is hovering around $2.63 a gallon: last year at this time, $1.90!  Makes you want to bail from the Golden State and move to the South or the East Coast? Not really, especially when you look at the kind of weather we’re having and compare it with temperatures in those sections of the country.

Still, I can’t get over how high gas prices are, particularly in California and in the Southland. This time last year, the prices at the pumps along Glenoaks Boulevard near Olive Avenue in Burbank were around $2.55 a gallon. At least 50 cents a gallon more than the national average at the time, but less than what motorists are paying now.

Photos from November 2008:  FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank

It seems that whenever gas prices and the unemployment figures are jacked up, the public’s view of the economy plummets. Right now, grim reminders like fuel prices and jobless rates make it hard for the average person to buy into optimistic reports that say the recession is over.

Yet, I believe when most of us sit down to dinner with family and friends this Thursday, we will find plenty of other things to be grateful for — and for a lot of us that means sending up a prayer of thanks to a higher power.  

We knew it was going to be big, but I don’t think anyone predicted it would be like out-of-this world huge! The fantasy/romance, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” made an astronomical figure — an estimated $140 million this weekend — to easily become the number one movie in the country!!

This is the second in the “Twilight” saga of two young lovers, teenager Bella Swan and vampire Edward Cullen, based on a series of bestselling novels by Stephenie Meyers. In “New Moon” it becomes a love triangle when Bella gets close to Jacob Black, played by Taylor Lautner,  who happens to be a werewolf.  Kristen Stewart stars as Bella and Robert Pattinson is Edward. 

Female fans demonstrated their power at the Box Office by propelling “New Moon” into the third best opening ever, behind “Spider-Man 3″ and “The Dark Knight.” However, “New Moon” took down Batman for the best ever Friday run with a whopping $72.7 million. “The Dark Knight” had held that record with a haul of $67.2 million on its first Friday.

Also, female ticket buyers apparently produced a boffo weekend for the new film “The Blind Side”, which debuted in second place with an estimated $34.5 million. This is a sports drama based on the real-life story of NFL player Michael Oher and it stars Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, and Quinton Aaron.

Last week’s top film, the disaster thriller “2012″, slid into third with about $26.5 million. A new animated flick, “Planet 51″ landed in fourth with a debut of around $12.6 million. “Planet 51″ stars Dwayne Johnson, Gary Oldman, John Cleese, and Jessica Biel in a story about a NASA astronaut who lands on a distance planet that looks very much like America did in the 1950s, except all the people are green!

Rounding out the top five, Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” with $12.2 million, bringing its three week total to nearly $80 million.  

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Attorney Solomon E. Gresen speaks to the media outside Burbank city hall on November 3, 2009.

Encino Attorney Solomon E. Gresen represents Burbank Police Lieutenant Omar Rodriquez and several of the other eight present or former BPD officers suing the city and the department. The Burbank Leader  reports BPD Detective Angelo Dahlia alleges in his lawsuit that he saw Lieutenant Rodriquez threaten a witness. According to the Leader, Dahlia characterized Rodriquez as having “…a reputation for corrupt and illegal practices.”  

Today, Gresen slammed those allegations as “categorically untrue.” Here’s Gresen’s statement. 

Statement of Solomon E. Gresen, Attorney for Burbank Police

Lieutenant Omar Rodriguez in “Rodriguez, et al. v. City of Burbank”

 As outlined in his 63 page complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 28^th of this year, Lieutenant Rodriguez has alleged that throughout his 22 year career at the Burbank Police Department he has been subjected to race-based harassment and promotional discrimination and retaliated against for his efforts to increase opportunities for minorities. 

 “The current lawsuit brought by Angelo Dahlia is the latest incident in a long string of retaliatory conduct against Lt. Rodriguez, and seems designed specifically to discredit Lt. Rodriguez and to detract from the claims of Rodriguez and Officers Steve Karagiosian, Jamal Childs, Elfago Rodriguez, Cindy Guillen-Gomez and Christopher Dunn.” said Solomon Gresen, attorney for Lt. Rodriguez inn his lawsuit against the City of Burbank.  The allegations concerning Lt. Rodriguez contained in Dahlia’s lawsuit are categorically untrue. 

 As alleged in his complaint, on April 15, 2009 Lt. Rodriguez was placed on administrative leave only two hours after he formally complained about retaliatory action taken against a fellow senior police officer who joined with Rodriguez in opposing the department’s systemic discrimination. The next day Rodriguez was demoted from his administrative position and reassigned to the patrol division.

 The complaint also describes a system and practice where the BPD has actively engaged in discriminatory hiring and promotionalpractices designed to maximize opportunities for white male, heterosexualofficers, at the expense of women and minorities.  The BPD has tolerated the use of offensive racial, ethnic and sexual preference slurs including but not limited to “nigger,” “beaner,” “fag,” “dyke,” “wet back,” “towel head” and other similarly objectionable terms. Further the BPD has consistently refused to take disciplinary or corrective action against the above described activities despite the repeated efforts by Lt. Rodriguez and others to bring significant evidence of harassment, discrimination and retaliation to the attention of the BPD’s senior leadership.

 The complaint goes on to say that over the course of his career, Lt. Rodriguez has suffered and documented multiple examples of unfair and illegal discrimination against him based on his Cuban/Hispanic heritage. Notwithstanding multiple obstacles unfairly placed in his path, in 2006 Lt. Rodriguez became the first non-Caucasian officer promoted above the rank of Sergeant since the City of Burbank incorporated in 1911. Over this entire 98 year period, not a single African-American has ever been promoted by the BPD above the rank of “Police Officer”. BPD has never had a single African-American Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief or Chief. 

File Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters at North Third Street and Orange Grove Avenue.

The number of present or former Burbank Police Officers suing the city and some department brass jumped to eight this week, and there are indications that total will go even higher. The latest lawsuit was filed by BPD Detective Angelo Dahlia on Tuesday in federal court, according to the Burbank Leader.

The story was up on the Leader website at 5:26 p.m. last night. A terse statement on the Dahlia suit appeared on the Burbank city website a short time later at 6:15 p.m. Here’s the statement.

Statement on Lawsuit Filed by Detective Angelo Dahlia

BURBANK, Calif. (November 19, 2009) – The City has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by Burbank Police Detective Angelo Dahlia.

These are a new set of allegations related to cases already being investigated. As with all serious charges, it is important for the investigations to be completed.

Earlier this year, the City hired an outside attorney and investigator to conduct an independent investigation into allegations ranging from wrongful termination, discrimination and retaliation to abuse of force.

In addition, Police Chief Tim Stehr requested the LA County Sheriff’s Department conduct its own investigation.

As these important inquiries continue, the City’s top priority remains the safety of our citizens.

###

This statement is extremely sketchy with very few facts relevant to the Dahlia case. What are Detective Dahlia’s allegations and charges? The Burbank statement was either hastily prepared by someone who FORGOT to include important facts or perhaps the purpose of the statement is not to inform, but a flimsy attempt at some sort of damage control.  

Ironically last Tuesday, November 17, the city council voted to install a new policy providing some type of screening for news releases on sensitive issues before they’re made public. This was in reaction to a controversy stirred up over the tone and language in some recent releases dealing with the investigations and lawsuits, particularly the statement issued after the suit filed by Ex-Deputy Police Chief Bill Taylor last September.

In a letter to the city council dated November 2, 2009, Former Burbank Mayor Marsha Ramos joined the outcry over the Taylor statement: “The press release stated that Mr. Taylor ‘refused to cooperate’ in the City’s attempt to investigate. Yet, I know that Mr. Taylor made several attempts to cooperate and bring forward for further discussion some very serious concerns.”

As for the Dahlia lawsuit, the Leader is reporting the BPD detective “alleges that high-ranking members of the department investigating the 2007 robbery of Porto’s Bakery assaulted and beat witnesses and suspects ‘under the color of authority.’ ” 

So the city of Burbank and the BPD are facing another potentially multi-million dollar lawsuit/ settlement. And we haven’t heard from the attorneys for Sergeant Neil T. Gunn’s family. Relatives have already accused the city and the BPD of having a hand in Sgt. Gunn’s suicide last month; a lawsuit is reportedly in the works.

I can’t help but wonder, if Police Chief Tim Stehr had taken complaints and concerns last spring from the Burbank Police Officer’s Association seriously enough and taken action to solve some of the department’s problems, Burbank might not be facing all these lawsuits and maybe, just maybe, a certain police officer might still be alive.

Some surprises on the annual list of the most overpaid Hollywood stars by Forbes magazine. It wasn’t just about the fat paychecks with all those zeros. Some actors aren’t generating a good return at the Box Office, according to Forbes.

In the number one spot on the magazine’s list, comic/actor Will Ferrell. Funny guys Eddie Murphy, Jim Carrey and actor Tom Cruise made the top 10 as well. However, the shockers for me were Drew Barrymore and Ice Cube! Here’s the story on how Forbes decided who is worth the big bucks and who isn’t.

Photo of Johnny Depp —Paul Treadway/Matrix/People Magazine

Actor Johnny Depp is 46-years-old. No matter. Today People Magazine handed Depp his second “Sexiest Man Alive” title, beating out hot younger hunks and fellow thespians Ryan Reynolds and Robert Pattinson. Depp won the title the first time around in 2003.

It’s nice to see a celebrity, who’s nearly 50, getting props for aging gracefully and not trying to look 25. Also, I love his I-don’t-care-what-the-fashion-police-say style that includes showing up at events wearing some pretty funky outfits and hair that always seems in need of a comb or a trim. Oh, and the guy’s an incredible actor as well. Go Johnny!

More on Depp and the other “Sexiest Man Alive” contenders on the People  website. 

FORD FUSION SELECTED MOTOR TREND CAR OF THE YEAR

American automaker Ford has picked up one of the most prestigious honors in its industry. Motor Trend magazine picked the Ford Fusion 2010 as the car of the year. The Ford model beat out the redesigned Toyota Prius and BMW 7-series.  Story here.

“MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT” HEADED TO TV

 The TV rights to the  documentary of the late Michael Jackson’s final concert rehearsal footage was snatched up by the MTV Network. The music channel will begin showing “This Is It” in 2011. More details on the deal on the Variety website.   

SCANDAL AND INSPIRATION FROM A REALITY SHOW TV STAR/TURNED AUTHOR

Nene Leakes, one of the co-stars of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” is stretching her 15 minutes of fame by writing a book (with Denene Millner). The title is “Never Make the Same Mistake Twice: Lessons on Love And Life Learned the Hard Way.” Leakes offers advice from personal struggles, while also dishing on her reality show.  More on Leakes’ book on the GalleyCat site. 

The disaster thriller “2012″  totally wiped out the competition at the Box Office this weekend. The film about a worldwide catastrophe in the year 2012 earned an estimated $65 million!  ”2012″ is now the number one film in the country. That incredible movie poster probably sold a few million tickets for the doomsday flick. “2012″ stars John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, and Danny Glover. The epic adventure is directed by Roland Emmerich.

Disney’s “A Christmas Carol,” last week’s top movie, dropped to second with around $22 million.  In two weeks, this version of the Charles Dickens classic has scooped up more than $63 million at the domestic Box Office and Christmas is still more than a month away. A lot of movie fans don’t start thinking about going to a holiday film until after they’ve had their Thanksgiving turkey and started serious Christmas shopping.

In third, “The Men Who Stared at Goats” with $6.2 million, followed close behind by “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” with $6 million. This independent film has been in wide release only for a couple of weeks. It tells the heartbreaking story of an illiterate New York teenager who lives in horrible conditions where she’s been raped and impregnated by her father twice, but in the end, she manages to triumph. The movie stars Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe and entertainers Mariah Carey and Mo’Nique.

Rounding out the top five, “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” documentary with $5 million for a three week domestic total of around $68 million.

 BERNIE MAKES A BUNDLE FOR HIS VICTIMS

Bernie Madoff is behind bars, but the big-time crook managed to generate a lot of dough for the victims of his Ponzi scheme, yesterday. In New York, personal property authorities confiscated from Madoff and his wife went on the auction block. Bidders shelled out major bucks for things like Madoff’s Rolex watches and New York Mets baseball jacket and his wife’s diamonds and furs. Nice story and photos of some of the items here.

 CALLING ALL AUTHORS: MAJOR PUBLISHER LOOKING FOR NEW SUBMISSIONS

Publishing giant Harlequin has launched a new venture called Carina Press. It’s a digital-only publishing house wide open to all sorts of genres from new and established authors. No advances, but royalty rates as high as 30%. Got questions? Check out the Carina Press editorial team blog.

MOVIE FANS CAMPOUT FOR  LATEST “TWILIGHT” FLICK PREMIERE 

They reportedly began staking out space on a sidewalk in Westwood for the Los Angeles screening of the second “Twilight” film Friday morning, November 13. The star-studded premiere is not until tomorrow night. If this kind of fan fever is any indication, the romantic fantasy “New Moon” is going to make a ton when it hits theaters next Friday, November 20.  Nikki Finke has some photos of the dedicated fans sitting on the sidewalk on her Deadline Hollywood Daily site.

 STRANGE TWIST

A 19-year-old robbery suspect is free after his Facebook page provided him with an alibi!  Reuters has the story.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove —Burbank

This week, a lot of talk, angry words, debate, and even some ranting, tripping, spewing, and spinning about what’s wrong in Burbank. On this fine example of a sunny, fall day, with temperatures to top out in the upper 60s or mid-70′s, one is reminded of some of the oh-so positive groovy reasons for living in Burbank.  

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank

While other parts of the country deal with the snow and ”brrr” of autumn, here we can walk, jog, bicycle, garden, or just sit out on the porch and watch the world go by in November. I love this time of year; with our mild climate many flowers and plants are now in fabulous bloom, one of my favorites, bougainvillea. This wonderful vine flowers year round and thrives in Southern California. In Burbank, bougainvillea is on display in variety of shapes and colors like bright pink, magenta, orange, purple, yellow, and white.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank

Yeah, there are some serious problems in Burbank right now. Nothing that can’t be fixed, in my opinion, making Burbank an even better place to live. 

Official White House Photo/Samantha Appleton — In a cold drizzly rain, President Obama stopped to share a moment with a couple of visitors at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, today.  

All across the nation today, Americans are remembering those who serve and those who have served in the armed forces. At Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, President Barack Obama took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns and then spoke to a gathering at the nearby Memorial Amphitheater. His remarks below are from The White House blog.

That is my message to all veterans today.  That is my message to all who serve in harm’s way.  To the husbands and wives back home doing the parenting of two.  To the parents who watch their sons and daughters go off to war, and the children who wonder when mom and dad is coming home.  To all our wounded warriors, and to the families who laid a loved one to rest.  America will not let you down.  We will take care of our own.

And to those who are serving in far-flung places today, when your tour ends, when you see our flag, when you touch our soil, you will be home in an America that is forever here for you just as you’ve been there for us.  That is my promise — our nation’s promise — to you.

Ninety-one years ago today, the battlefields of Europe fell quiet as World War I came to a close.  But we don’t mark this day each year as a celebration of victory, as proud of that victory as we are.  We mark this day as a celebration of those who made victory possible.  It’s a day we keep in our minds the brave men and women of this young nation — generations of them — who above all else believed in and fought for a set of ideals.  Because they did, our country still stands; our founding principles still shine; nations around the world that once knew nothing but fear now know the blessings of freedom.

That is why we fight — in hopes of a day when we no longer need to.  And that is why we gather at these solemn remembrances and reminders of war — to recommit ourselves to the hard work of peace.

There will be a day before long when this generation of servicemen and women step out of uniform.  They will build families and lives of their own.  God willing, they will grow old.  And someday, their children, and their children’s children, will gather here to honor them.

Thank you.  God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove —Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr

I don’t know if he was pushed or he volunteered, but Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr is heading for the door. The announcement appeared a short while ago on the Burbank city website. It comes almost a week after that volatile council meeting where Councilman David Gordon called for an emergency action to consider putting Chief Stehr on administrative leave. His fellow council members balked and refused to consider the motion.

Last Friday afternoon, I published a post on this blog, “Time for serious change in Burbank,” calling for the police chief to step aside or to be put on administrative leave for the good of the BPD, the city, and its citizens. Stehr’s ability to lead has been severely damaged by the investigations, lawsuits, low morale, the suicide death of Sergeant Neil Thomas Gunn, Senior, and other problems in the department. The decision was slow in coming, but it was the right one. Here is the announcement from the Burbank website.

Burbank Police Chief to Retire

 BURBANK, Calif. (November 9, 2009)– Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr will officially step down from his post on December 31, 2009.

 “It has been my absolute privilege to serve as Chief in the City of Burbank,” says Stehr. “Our department is facing challenging times. The healing process will be a long one but I have tremendous confidence in the brave men and women of our department and the citizens of this community. As I prepare to retire, I wish to thank all those who made the department’s success possible.”

 Stehr joined the Burbank Police Department in 1978 as a cadet and served in a variety of roles before being named Chief in 2007.

 City Manager Michael Flad says an Interim Chief will assume duties no later than January 1^stwith Chief Stehr assisting in the transition for 30-60 days.

UPDATE 7:52 p.m.

I spoke with Burbank Councilman David Gordon by phone a few minutes ago. Now that Police Chief Tim Stehr is leaving, Councilman Gordon says “…I am hopeful….  there will be new outside leadership coming in… to cast new independent view of the important issues facing our police department…”

New leadership with fresh ideas. I agree. That’s the kind of change that is needed in the Burbank Police Department and in city government as well.

UPDATE 11/11/09   Police Chief Tim Stehr speaks

In an opinion piece published last night on the Burbank Leader website, outgoing Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr gives his reason for stepping down and comments on a number issues, including misconduct in the BPD.  Here is what the chief wrote:

I have decided to retire after a more than 31-year career with one of the most professional and top-quality law enforcement agencies in this state. This is an extremely difficult decision for me to leave this department, where I have had such a rich and rewarding career.

I have spent virtually my entire adult life here at the Burbank Police Department. I met my incredible wife here, her family and so many great people who have become lifelong friends.

I regret that I am prevented from fully commenting on the investigations and litigation that seem to be so consuming to the city, but I want to assure the community that the men and women of this department are totally committed to the safety of this city.

I would like to comment on something that seems to be misunderstood and misrepresented in the many public discussions of these issues, and that is the Police Department’s legal duty to investigate all complaints of misconduct.

When a citizen brings allegations involving the misconduct of a Burbank police officer to the attention of the Burbank Police Department, the Police Department is mandated by law to conduct an administrative investigation. When a citizen’s accusation of misconduct is so egregious that if true, it would constitute criminal misconduct, the Police Department refers that accusation to an independent law enforcement agency to conduct a criminal investigation. Under those circumstances, the police officer is placed on administrative leave, with full pay, pending the outcome of the administrative investigation, and possibly the criminal investigation.

Currently, one or more citizens have accused several Burbank officers of misconduct. Those accusations are under administrative investigation by an independent investigator hired by the Burbank Police Department, with the approval of the City Council. In addition, the Burbank Police Department referred the accusations of misconduct to an outside law enforcement agency.

I believe that my continued service here is a distraction that the city and the department do not need, and that is why I announced my retirement. I am proud of my record of service to this community at every step of my career, from cadet all the way to chief.

As chief, I do not regret the actions I took to investigate complaints of misconduct, to refer the complaints to an outside agency for criminal investigation, and to punish those who were found to have acted inappropriately. The Burbank community deserves nothing less than a full and complete investigation of all allegations of misconduct. I have acted at all times with the full knowledge of, direction and advice from the special outside counsel and investigator appointed for this purpose by the City Council.

I have many great memories and career accomplishments that I am very proud of. I want to thank the city manager for giving me the opportunity to serve this department as chief, and I hope only the very best future for this department and this city.

I especially want to thank my incredible family, my wife, Barbara, my children, Cory and Jessica, my in-laws, extended family and friends who have provided me with unconditional love and support throughout my entire career. 

MORE COMMENTS from Chief Stehr on his departure and reaction from the Burbank Police Officer’s Association President, Detective Mike Parrinello, in an article by Burbank Leader reporter Christopher Cadelago, which is also posted on the newspaper’s website.

It’s a little early for me to be getting into the Christmas mood, but that was not the case for ticket buyers at the nation’s movie theaters. Disney’s new version of “A Christmas Carol” scored the biggest haul at the Box Office this weekend, collecting somewhere around $31 million, to become the number one film in the country. This 3-D take on the Charles Dickens holiday tale of redemption stars Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge and as the three ghosts who visit the bitter miser on Christmas Eve.  

“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” documentary got bumped from the top spot and landed in second place with around $14 million. In two weeks, this behind the scenes look at the late popstar rehearsing for a series of London concerts has earned close to $60 million in the U.S. The international total for the Jackson’s film has soared past a $100 million.

The new film, “The Men Who Stare at Goats” debuted in third with about $13.3 million. The movie is a comedy about the U.S. Military research into the use of psychic powers. George Clooney stars along with Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey, and Jeff Bridges.

 Another new movie, “The Fourth Kind” debuted in fourth place about $12.5 million. It’s a sci-fi thriller about alien abductions and stars Milla Jovovich. Rounding out the top five, the highly successful scary film, “Paranormal Activity” with $8.6 million.

White House file Photo/Chuck Kennedy — 11/06/09

The investigation continues today into that deadly mass shooting on the U.S. Army base, Fort Hood, last Thursday. Military officials say 13 people were killed and more than two dozen others injured. The rampage ended when the alleged gunman, Army Major Nidal M. Hasan, was severely wounded. While the suspected shooter and many of the victims recover in the hospital, investigators are trying to piece together information on why the shooting occurred. 

Today President Barack Obama focused his weekly radio and Internet address on the Fort Hood tragedy. Here is the text from the White House website.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, November 7, 2009

I’d like to speak with you for a few minutes today about the tragedy that took place at Ft. Hood. This past Thursday, on a clear Texas afternoon, an Army psychiatrist walked into the Soldier Readiness Processing Center, and began shooting his fellow soldiers.

It is an act of violence that would have been heartbreaking had it occurred anyplace in America. It is a crime that would have horrified us had its victims been Americans of any background. But it’s all the more heartbreaking and all the more despicable because of the place where it occurred and the patriots who were its victims.

The SRP is where our men and women in uniform go before getting deployed. It’s where they get their teeth checked and their medical records updated and make sure everything is in order before getting shipped out. It was in this place, on a base where our soldiers ought to feel most safe, where those brave Americans who are preparing to risk their lives in defense of our nation, lost their lives in a crime against our nation.

Soldiers stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world called and emailed loved ones at Ft. Hood, all expressing the same stunned reaction: I’m supposed to be the one in harm’s way, not you.

Thursday’s shooting was one of the most devastating ever committed on an American military base. And yet, even as we saw the worst of human nature on full display, we also saw the best of America. We saw soldiers and civilians alike rushing to aid fallen comrades; tearing off bullet-riddled clothes to treat the injured; using blouses as tourniquets; taking down the shooter even as they bore wounds themselves.

We saw soldiers bringing to bear on our own soil the skills they had been trained to use abroad; skills that been honed through years of determined effort for one purpose and one purpose only: to protect and defend the United States of America.

We saw the valor, selflessness, and unity of purpose that make our servicemen and women the finest fighting force on Earth; that make the United States military the best the world has ever known; and that make all of us proud to be Americans.

On Friday, I met with FBI Director Mueller, Defense Secretary Gates, and representatives of the relevant agencies to discuss their ongoing investigation into what led to this terrible crime. And I’ll continue to be in close contact with them as new information comes in.

We cannot fully know what leads a man to do such a thing. But what we do know is that our thoughts are with every single one of the men and women who were injured at Ft. Hood. Our thoughts are with all the families who’ve lost a loved one in this national tragedy. And our thoughts are with all the Americans who wear – or who’ve worn – the proud uniform of the United States of America; our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and coast guardsmen, and the military families who love and support them.

In tribute to those who fell at Ft. Hood, I’ve ordered flags flying over the White House, and other federal buildings to be lowered to half-staff from now until Veterans Day next Wednesday. Veterans Day is our chance to honor those Americans who’ve served on battlefields from Lexington to Antietam, Normandy to Manila, Inchon to Khe Sanh, Ramadi to Kandahar.

They are Americans of every race, faith, and station. They are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers. They are descendants of immigrants and immigrants themselves. They reflect the diversity that makes this America. But what they share is a patriotism like no other. What they share is a commitment to country that has been tested and proved worthy. What they share is the same unflinching courage, unblinking compassion, and uncommon camaraderie that the soldiers and civilians of Ft. Hood showed America and showed the world.

These are the men and women we honor today. These are the men and women we’ll honor on Veterans Day. And these are the men and women we shall honor every day, in times of war and times of peace, so long as our nation endures.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank City Councilman David Gordon and Vice-Mayor/Council Member Anja Reinke at the Tuesday November 3, 2009, council meeting.

Reverberations from last Tuesday’s Burbank City Council meeting are still shaking the town and probably will continue to do so for some time. That should really come as no surprise to anyone who was there or watched it on TV. It was an explosive event with huge ramifications.

Things really got cooking when Councilman David Gordon declared publicly what many in this city have been talking about and hoping for. Boldly, Dr. Gordon called for his fellow council members to consider an emergency action to discuss putting Burbank Police Chief Stehr on “administrative leave.”

Gordon cited  the “stress and tension” in the department brought on by Stehr’s questionable leadership, Sergeant Neil Thomas Gunn’s death, and a slew of investigations and lawsuits. Stehr has been named in some of those lawsuits and is more than likely being questioned as well in the FBI’s secretive probe into misconduct by the BPD.

All around me, wild applause broke out in the city council chamber. Members of Sergeant Gunn’s family and their supporters, which included a larger number of Burbank police officers, filled the seats and lined the walls of the chamber. Many of the Gunn supporters still carried the candles that were used earlier in the evening at a vigil for the veteran Burbank police officer.

Photos: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove —Gunn supporters walked from the vigil at Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters to city hall for the city council meeting. 

On October 29, the body of 50-year-old Burbank Police Sergeant Neil Thomas Gunn, Senior was discovered beneath a cluster of trees, near the De Bell Golf course at the intersection of Sunset Canyon Drive and Harvard Road. According to a Burbank Police/Burbank City press release, Gunn died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove —Sunset Canyon Drive and Harvard Road.

Rumors about Sgt. Gunn’s death have been flying fast and furious around Burbank for days. Gunn was reportedly one of the officers named in that FBI investigation. In a news advisory, a newspaper interview, and at a news conference on the steps of city hall Tuesday night, Gunn family members claimed the police officer’s suicide was a result of “the treatment” he received from the Burbank Police Department.

“My brother was a victim of retaliation for defending officers who had been wrongly accused…” charged Chris Topolovich who spoke for the family at the news conference. Sources say documents or notes left behind by Sgt. Gunn leveled an accusing finger at Chief Stehr. Topolovich ended his remarks to the media by pleading for “.. no more dead bodies in the city of Burbank.”

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — After the news conference, a distraught Chris Topolovich is comforted under the glare of media lights by Gunn’s son, Neil Gunn Junior.

Councilman Gordon characterized the situation in the BPD as a ”health and safety” issue and told his colleagues ”we cannot close our eyes” to the problem. However, close their eyes is exactly what the four other council members did. How could they be in that position, live in this city, and not see and hear what is going on?

Reinke ranted she did not “…have enough facts” to consider “discharging” the police chief. Interesting, Gordon never used the word “discharge” or anything close to fire. He said “administrative leave.” Several Burbank police officers, whose guilt or innocence has not been determined, are on administrative leave. Topolovich confirmed during the news conference that Sgt. Gunn had been on administrative leave as well.

 Councilman Jess Talamantes said “I don’t have all the facts” and described the matter with the police chief as merely”… a personnel issue.” Talking about missing the magnitude of the situation. 

Mayor/Councilman Gary Bric joined with Talamantes and Reinke in saying he too was in the dark. Gee, now didn’t the mayor read that controversial statement on September 29, 2009 (supported by all of the council members) that claimed to be in the know about the lawsuits, investigations, and problems in the BPD.

 Mayor Bric said:”There have been a number of lawsuits and claims filed that contain multiple allegations of improper conduct ranging from wrongful termination, discrimination and retaliation to abuse of force and various forms of covering up such activities. These are all very serious allegations and I think it is clear to everyone that the police department is facing some major challenges. All of these allegations have arisen from sources within the department or from former members of the department.”

Also, Bric stated: “While we know the entire community is disappointed to know that there are issues within the police department, please rest assured that the City Council is taking every step possible to make sure all of the issues are identified and that steps are taken to make sure that any problems that are identified are dealt with in a manner that insures they are never repeated. This may mean some severe consequences for any persons involved in misconduct, but we believe the integrity of our police department is extremely important to this community and is our paramount concern.”

And then Councilman Dave Golonski accused Gordon of “grandstanding” and said, “I don’t believe there is an emergency.” Golonski’s comments and those of some of the other council members were greeted with jeers and hisses from the audience.

A frustrated Burbank resident tried to convince the council members of the seriousness of the situation by shouting, “It happened near my house!” in reference to the Sgt. Gunn tragedy. Well, when the homeowner would not be silenced the mayor ordered him removed from the chamber. Instead, the man got up and stormed out. Gordon’s motion died when it did not receive one vote from his fellow council members. However, the issue is still very much alive.

It’s time for serious change in Burbank.  At the top of the list, Police Chief Tim Stehr needs to step aside or be put on administrative leave for the good of the department, the city, and the citizens of  Burbank.

Even in death, the late superstar, Michael Jackson, can still generate millions of dollars in ticket sales. The legendary entertainer’s behind the scenes documentary, “Michael Jackson’s This Is It,” thrilled enough moviegoers to become the number one film in the country this weekend. The Jackson flick debuted with an estimated $21.3 million, falling short of some expectations, but still winning the domestic Box Office derby just the same.

Jackson was in the Los Angeles area rehearsing for his “This Is It” series of London concerts when he died suddenly on June 25, 2009. Later, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office ruled the pop icon’s death was a homicide, the result of a dangerous combination of drugs.  A criminal investigation continues into the singer’s death. Jackson was only 50-years-old when he died.

In second place at the Box Office, the horror thriller, “Paranormal Activity” with about $16.5 million. This little scary movie made on a shoestring budget of less than $20,000 has earned more than $80 million in six weeks. Last weekend, “Paranormal Activity” completed a remarkable climb to the number one spot.

The revenge drama, “Law Abiding Citizen” took in an estimated $7.3 million for third place, followed by the relationship comedy, “Couples Retreat” in fourth with $6 million and rounding out the top five, the horror film, “Saw V1″ with $5.5 million.