The city Friday fired three police officers and demoted a fourth in connection with a hit-and-run car accident that took place little more than a year ago.
Former Manhattan Beach police officers Richard Hatten, Eric Eccles and Kristopher Thompson were officially let go from the city after collectively receiving $514,710 — including salary and benefits — while on paid administrative leave since the accident, which took place on Jan. 31 of last year. A fourth officer, Bryan Klatt was demoted from rank of lieutenant to officer.
The officers’ salaries were obtained through a public records request made by the Easy Reader.
“Under our system, the decision to terminate is made by the department head,” said city manager Dave Carmany. “The employees have every right to appeal, if they wish to. The next step would be the Civil Service Commission or arbitration.”
The officers’ department head is MBPD Chief Rod Uyeda, who declined to comment this week.
After two outside investigations conducted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. into an alleged hit-and-run cover-up that dragged out for a year, the four officers earlier this month were informed by Uyeda of their termination from the department for their roles in the incident. Under state law, each officer was entitled to pre-disciplinary review called a Skelly Hearing, which is generally completed within 10 days to two weeks after notice is given.
“A point to be made about the whole process of firing an officer is that it only happens as a last resort,” Carmany said.
Neither the Sheriff’s Department nor the MBPD had discussed details of the case until the city last week released the names of the officers involved. City attorney Robert Wadden said that penal codes offer police officers very strong privacy protection regarding personnel matters.
According to sources, Eccles, Hatten and Thompson were off-duty drinking at Grunion’s Sports Bar on Sepulveda Boulevard before they got into Hatten’s Corvette, which became involved in a crash with two other cars. Shortly after the incident, Uyeda said the accident may have involved an intoxicated driver who left the scene. The damaged Corvette was later found unattended parked at a nearby gas station, said sources familiar with the case.
After the incident, the three officers were placed on leave. MBPD Officer Jeff Goodrich, who responded to the scene, was also placed on administrative leave. Sources said Goodrich did not take a report. He died of cancer in September. Goodrich received $103,575 in total compensation in the eight months he was on leave.
Klatt was the watch commander on duty when the incident occurred and allegedly did not immediately report it to department officials.
At the completion of a criminal investigation in January, Hatten, 36, was charged with a misdemeanor count of leaving the scene of a car accident. He entered a “not guilty” plea at his arraignment.
When the city first announced the officers would be fired, Uyeda issued a statement to his department confirming disciplinary action, but stating that he could not comment further on the matter because of laws pertaining to personnel matters.
“I know that a lot of rumors and unease may be spreading throughout the organization at the present time over an investigation that has dragged on for over a year,” the statement read. “We knew this day would come and now it is here. …Incidents like this tend to tear organizations apart, with some people taking sides and having conflicting opinions on the issues.”
Uyeda called the internal affairs investigation that was since completed by the Sheriff’s Department “completely objective” and said there could be no claims that results were manipulated.
Hatten, Eccles and Thompson can further appeal to the Los Angeles County Civil Services Commission or request hearings with outside arbitrators. After that, they can appeal through the courts. Hatten’s next court hearing is scheduled for April 11. ER
