COURT OF APPEAL OF CALIFORNIA
SIXTH
APPELLATE DISTRICT
Operating Engineers
Local
Union No. 3, et al.,
Plaintiffs
and Appellants,
v.
County
of Monterey, et al.,
Defendants
and Respondents.
No.
H030460
2007
Cal. App. Unpub. Lexis 8394
2007
WL 3020036
October
17, 2007, Filed
Not to be published in
official reports.
McAdams, J.;
Bamattre-Manoukian, Acting P.J., Duffy, J. concurred.
McAdams, J.
The trial court denied the petition for writ of administrative
mandamus in which Deputy Sheriff Louis Parker, n1 sought to vacate the disciplinary action terminating his employment
with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff’s Office). The Sheriff’s Office terminated
Parker on the grounds that he was negligent when he accidentally shot a
civilian and that he lied during the internal affairs investigation into the
shooting. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors (the Board) upheld the
termination.
Parker contends his due process rights were violated because his
termination was based on charges that were not set forth in the Notice of
Punitive Action. He asserts the Board’s finding that other negligent discharge
cases were dissimilar was not supported by substantial evidence and that
substantial evidence does not support the Board’s decision to distinguish this
case from accidental discharge cases that did not result in human injury. He argues the decision to
terminate him was an abuse of discretion because it was the result of disparate
treatment and was not supported by the evidence. We find no error and affirm
the superior court judgment.
FACTS
Parker’s Employment with Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Parker began working for the Sheriff’s Office in November
1995. He worked as a deputy in corrections at the Monterey County Jail for
about three and one half years. During that time, he briefly transferred to the
patrol section of the Sheriff’s Office but was returned to corrections until he
could improve his report writing skills.
In 1999, Parker transferred back to the patrol division. After
brief stints in the Salinas and Monterey branch offices, he was assigned to the
branch office in King City, where he worked as a patrol officer until his
discharge in May 2003. As a patrol deputy, he was issued a 12-gauge shotgun and
a .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol.
In August 2000, the Sheriff’s Office issued a memorandum to the
deputies advising them that the department would be making Colt AR-15
semi-automatic n2 rifles available for use by the deputies. The memorandum
inquired regarding the officers’ interest in obtaining the training and
maintaining the qualification necessary to use the rifles. Parker responded
affirmatively and indicated an interest in obtaining the training and using the
rifle.
Patrol officers who carried the AR-15 rifles on regular patrol
were required to attend a 16-hour weapons training course and “qualify” with the
weapon. To “qualify” with a weapon, the officer has to shoot a designated
number of rounds, place them on a target in locations that would be
incapacitating to a human being, and obtain a minimum score, indicating his or
her proficiency with the weapon. In response to Parker’s request, the Sheriff’s
Office scheduled him to take the 16-hour training course on the AR-15.
In the latter part of 2000, Parker interviewed for a position on
the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. He was appointed to the SWAT team
in October 2001. At that point in time, he still had not taken the 16-hour
training on the AR-15. After he was appointed to the SWAT team, the Sheriff’s
Office cancelled Parker’s 16-hour training course, reasoning that he would
obtain training on the AR-15 as part of his training on the SWAT team.
In December 2001, the Sheriff’s Office issued Parker an AR-15
with a canvas case for use on the SWAT team. The Sheriff’s Office generally
held monthly training sessions for the SWAT team on a variety of topics. The
training sessions usually lasted a full day. Over the course of a year, the
SWAT training covered the same material as the 16-hour rifle course on the
AR-15.
After he was issued the AR-15, Parker decided he wanted some
experience firing the weapon before the next SWAT training session. He
therefore arranged to go to the Laguna Seca Rifle and Pistol Range with Deputy
Rahiri to practice shooting the AR-15. They went to the range on their own time
on January 4, 2002. Deputy Rahiri showed Parker how to load and unload the
weapon. Parker testified that this was the first time anyone showed him how to
load and unload the AR-15. Rahiri was surprised that Parker was having trouble
loading and charging the weapon. However, after he showed him how to do it,
Parker was able to operate the rifle correctly. After they were done shooting,
Parker and Rahiri went to Rahiri’s house and Rahiri taught Parker how to break
down and clean the AR-15.
The monthly SWAT training included gun range training at least
four times a year. The SWAT training Parker attended on February 9, 2002, was
an all-day session at the King City range and covered “[v]arious shooting
courses and weapons qualifications.” Sergeant Garcia, one of the SWAT team
leaders, recalled that Parker qualified on the AR-15 at that training session.
Sergeant Teeter, the other SWAT team leader, testified that the team leaders do
not allow SWAT team members to deploy their assigned weapons until they exhibit
proficiency with the weapon and qualify.
Parker also attended a three-day basic SWAT training course in
March 2002 that included some weapons qualifications. The deputies did drills
with their handguns, the MP-5 rifles, and the AR-15 rifles. The drills with the
AR-15 lasted an hour and a half on March 12, 2002. The officers also received
training regarding cleaning the weapons on March 14, 2002. However, there was a
factual dispute whether Parker attended this portion of the training because he
had sustained an injury earlier that day.
Including the dates mentioned above, Parker attended 13 days of
SWAT training between October 24, 2001, and August 1, 2002.
August 5, 2002 SWAT Mission
On August 5, 2002, 15 days before the shooting, Parker worked
his regular 10-hour patrol shift from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Because the
station was short-handed, he agreed to remain on duty and work the next shift.
At about 8:00 p.m., during Parker’s second shift, he was called out for a SWAT
mission to help serve a search warrant on a house in Salinas as part of a
homicide investigation. Parker remained on duty to complete the SWAT mission
until 1:00 a.m. the following morning.
After receiving the call for the SWAT mission, Parker went to
the Salinas station to meet with the SWAT team for a briefing and to obtain his
SWAT gear. SWAT weapons are generally stored in the armory in the Salinas
office of the sheriff’s department, with the magazine out and the chamber
unloaded. The Sheriff’s Office allowed the SWAT officers to keep their SWAT
weapons with them when on patrol, on the condition that they stored the weapons
unloaded, with the magazine removed when outside the armory. In addition, SWAT
team members assigned to the King City station were allowed to store their SWAT
weapons, unloaded with the magazine removed, in their lockers in King City to
allow for prompt access to the weapon in case of a SWAT mission in south
county. Parker testified that he did not keep his AR-15 with him on patrol,
although authorized to do so by the department, because he did not feel
comfortable with the weapon.
The search warrant mission on August 5, 2002, was successful. No
shots were fired. Upon completion of the SWAT mission, Sergeant Teeter gave an
order for the team members to place their weapons on “safe.” The weapons
remained loaded, but the selector switch was on “safe,” not “fire.” Parker
could not recall whether he placed his AR-15 on safe.
The team traveled back to the Salinas station for a debriefing.
After they arrived at the station, the deputies unloaded their weapons; they
removed the magazines, cleared the chambers, placed the rifles in their cases,
and returned them to the armory. On previous SWAT missions that Parker
attended, the deputies unloaded and cleared their weapons as a group. However,
the deputies did not unload as a group on August 5, 2002. Sergeant Teeter
explained that they generally do not unload as a group after serving a search
warrant.
Rather than return his AR-15 to the armory, Parker placed it in
its case inside the trunk of his patrol car. He took the weapon with him so he
could clean it and to comply with a directive from the SWAT sergeants to label
his gun case. After he returned to the King City station, Parker placed the
rifle case, with the AR-15 inside, in his locker. He completed a report from
earlier in the day and went home. It was undisputed that Parker failed to clear his weapon of all live ammunition
after the August 5, 2002 SWAT mission and that he left the AR-15 with the
magazine loaded and a live round in the chamber when he placed it in the gun
case. The Board found that Parker had failed to place the safety switch in the
“safe” position.
Each deputy on the SWAT team was assigned a particular rifle and
a black canvas gun case. The rifles and the cases belonged to the Sheriff’s
Office. When the deputies changed assignments on the SWAT team, the weapons
would be reassigned. At their July training meeting, the SWAT team members were
directed to put their names on their rifle cases. The SWAT team leaders
suggested three methods: (1) that the deputies laminate a business card and
attach it to the case; (2) that they put their names on an evidence tag and
attach it to the case; or (3) that they write their names on a piece of tape
and attach the tape to the bag. The team leaders did not tell the deputies
these were the only ways to mark their gun cases. A few deputies owned their
own cases. Those deputies had name tags sewn onto their bags, embroidered their
bags, or used a white maker to label their bags. Several witnesses stated that
it was inappropriate for a deputy to permanently mark a case that belonged to
the Sheriff’s Office.
Shooting Incident
On August 20, 2002, while off-duty, Parker and his wife took his
gun case, with the AR-15 inside, to the Graphic Threads shop in King City to
inquire about having Parker’s name embroidered on the case. Parker had not
examined the weapon since the search warrant mission on August 5, 2002. After
parking his pick-up truck, he made a conscious decision to leave the rifle
inside the gun case. He decided not to leave the gun inside the pick-up truck
because his college-aged daughter had decided to remain in the truck, there was
no other place to store the gun in the truck, and Parker did not want members
of the public to see him pull the gun out of the case.
Parker took
the gun case up to the store counter. Shop owner Nancy Ingalls had difficulty
fitting an embroidery ring on the area of the bag that Parker wanted
embroidered and asked him to remove the gun from the case. Parker unzipped the
case at the butt end. As he started to remove the gun from the case, Don
Ingalls, Nancy’s Ingalls’s husband and co-owner of the shop, got up from his
desk and walked toward the counter. Don Ingalls, who was a hunter and had
served in the military, became curious when he heard the word “rifle” and
wanted to see the gun. Parker grabbed the rifle by the stock. He was positive
he did not pull the trigger. As Parker pulled the gun from the bag, it
discharged. A round went through the soft case and struck Mr. Ingalls in the
abdomen.
Deputy Parker rushed to Mr. Ingalls’s side. After determining
that Ingalls was alive, Parker went outside and called for help on his service
radio, while Mrs. Parker, who was a nurse, tended to Mr. Ingalls. Mr. Ingalls
received emergency treatment in Salinas and was then flown to the Santa Clara
Valley Medical Center for further treatment. As a result of the incident, Don Ingalls lost one-third
of his large intestine and one-third of his small intestine and had to use a
feeding tube. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls sued the county and Deputy
Parker for personal injuries (Monterey County Superior Court Case No. M61739).
It was undisputed that Parker’s work record was unblemished
prior to the August 20, 2002 incident.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Immediately after the shooting, Parker was placed on paid
administrative leave. He returned to active duty on October 22, 2002. Parker
resigned from his position on the SWAT team on December 10, 2002. His letter of
resignation stated that the shooting incident had caused unfair media attention
to the SWAT team. He apologized to the team and the sheriff’s department for
the embarrassment he brought upon them. He remained on duty on his patrol
assignment until March 13, 2003.
Internal Affairs Investigation
Shortly
after the incident, the Sheriff’s Office internal affairs department initiated
an investigation into the shooting. The investigation focused on two issues:
(1) whether Parker was negligent in handling his AR-15 at the embroidery shop
and (2) whether Parker was dishonest when interviewed by internal affairs about
the shooting. After an extensive investigation, the internal affairs
investigator concluded that Parker was negligent in handling his AR-15 rifle at
the embroidery shop. The investigator also concluded that Parker had been
dishonest in responding to questions during the internal affairs investigation.
In particular, the investigator concluded that Parker had been dishonest when
he said that he had never received any training on his SWAT weapon and that he
had never qualified on the AR-15.
In his first interview, Parker was asked, “Did you receive any
training as far as familiarization with that and qualification with that
weapon?” He answered, “No.” He said the range masters never gave him any
training on the weapon and Deputy Rahiri showed him how to shoot it. In
response to a question asking whether he had ever qualified with the AR-15
since being on the SWAT team, Parker stated that he did not know if it was a
qualification. “[He] just shot on the SWAT, [he] never qualified.” He denied
ever having any training at the King City range.
In his second interview, the investigator asked Parker why he
had denied ever having any training on his SWAT weapon. Parker responded,
“Because I haven’t had training with it.” When asked why he had said he had never
qualified with the weapon, Parker responded, “Because I . . . I was never
qualified with that weapon.” He stated that no one other than Deputy Rahiri had
ever given him any instruction on the AR-15. After the investigator showed
Parker documents that confirmed that he had attended a full day of SWAT
training that included weapons training and qualification on the AR-15 at the
King City Range on February 9, 2002, Parker said he did attend the training.
After the investigator showed Parker documents regarding the three-day SWAT
training in March 2002, Parker acknowledged that he had gone to the training
and that firearms training took place on March 12, 2002.
On April 2,
2003, the Sheriff’s Office Shooting Review Board made a formal finding that the
shooting was not within department policy. Although not expressly stated in the
record, it appears the discipline recommended was termination.
Skelly Hearing and Notice of Punitive
Action
Parker requested a Skelly n3
hearing, which was held on April 30, 2003. After the hearing, Sheriff
Mike Kanalakis upheld the recommended discipline. On May 9, 2003, the Sheriff
issued a “Notice of Punitive Action” terminating Parker’s employment effective
that day. The termination was based on the internal affairs findings that Parker
was negligent in handling his AR-15 and deceptive in his responses to certain
questions during the internal affairs investigation. n4
Sheriff
Kanalakis acknowledged that Parker was remorseful and had apologized for what
had happened. While Parker admitted that he had experience shooting the AR-15,
there was a difference of opinion whether shooting the weapon was the same as
qualifying with it. The Sheriff testified that Parker was not lying when he
said he had not qualified on the AR-15. However, he also stated that he
department does not provide weapons to deputies who have not qualified.
The Sheriff
explained that the facts that Parker was negligent in handling the weapon and
someone almost lost his life were critical to his decision to terminate Parker.
The fact that Parker was deceitful during the internal affairs investigation
left him no choice but to terminate him. The Sheriff also concluded Parker
would not be a credible witness in a courtroom in a criminal case.
Parker appealed the discipline to the Board. Pursuant to the
Memorandum of Understanding between the county and the Deputy Sheriffs’
Association, the parties selected and the Board appointed a hearing officer to
conduct a hearing on the appeal.
The hearing was held on April 22, and May 12, 2004. At the
hearing, the county argued that Parker should be terminated for the negligent
shooting resulting in serious injury, coupled with his dishonest answers during
the internal affairs investigation. The county asserted that Parker cannot be trusted to be truthful in
the future, reducing his effectiveness in court proceedings and in dealings
with his peers and superiors. The county argued that this case was
distinguishable from other cases of officer discipline the Union was relying on
to argue that Parker was treated disparately and without just cause.
The Union argued that Parker should not be terminated because,
except for this incident, his record with the Sheriff’s Office was unblemished.
In addition, Parker immediately accepted responsibility for and showed remorse
for the shooting. The Union contended that Parker’s alleged untruthful answers
were not untruthful because Parker and the investigator attached different
meanings to the words “trained” and “qualified” as those terms relate to the
use and handling of the AR-15. The Union also argued that termination was too
severe a penalty when compared with other cases of negligent but accidental
shootings by Monterey County deputy sheriffs, rendering Parker’s discharge
outside the accepted standard of just cause. The Union presented evidence related to eight accidental
shooting cases, other than the subject incident, dating back to March 1998. Two
of the cases resulted in injuries to persons, while six resulted in property
damage. None of the other officers had been terminated.
The hearing officer reviewed extensive documentary evidence,
including the 64-page internal affairs report. He also heard the testimony of
Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls, Sheriff Kanalakis, Sergeants Teeter and Garcia,
and other Sheriff’s Office personnel.
Hearing Officer’s Decision
The hearing
officer issued his opinion and award on September 7, 2004. He concluded that Parker’s
dismissal was without sufficient and just cause. The hearing officer
gave less weight to the prior shooting incidents involving property damage.
While recognizing that only fate determined whether a person or property was
struck in most cases, he reasoned that the level of discipline can be justly
different in cases where human beings, rather than property, are injured as a
result of the negligent use of firearms by law enforcement officers. The hearing officer reviewed the
other two shooting cases involving personal injuries and noted that one officer
received no discipline, while the other officer received a three-week
suspension. Because of the substantial difference in the disciplinary treatment
of Parker compared to the other officers, the hearing officer concluded that
Parker could not, “under the standard of just cause, be terminated for the
shooting.”
With regard
to the issue of dishonesty, the hearing officer concluded that “a careful
analysis of Parker’s answers in his two [internal affairs] interviews, as well
as the arbitration hearing, demonstrates to the arbitrator[n5 ] that Mr. Parker
was not being intentionally deceptive. This is particularly evident when
his answers are measured against his own actions to self-train himself with
deputy Rahiri and to store his AR-15 in the Salinas office armory rather than
his patrol car as well as the clear, seemingly sincere ambiguity and confusion
in Parker’s stated understanding of the meanings of ‘trained’ and ‘qualified.’
While there was testimony that during mandatory semi-annual shooting practices,
the SWAT team stays at the range until all of its members qualify, there was no
evidence presented that such a practice was known by all SWAT team members or
was communicated to newer members, like Parker.” The hearing officer also relied on the facts that Parker
missed the 16-hour course on the AR-15 and missed a crucial section on the
breakdown and cleaning of the AR-15 in March 2002. Thus, the hearing officer
concluded that Parker was not dishonest or intentionally misleading in his
answers to the investigator.
The hearing officer recommended Parker return to his former
position as a patrol deputy without any loss of salary or benefits for the
period of his dismissal, except that he be assessed three weeks’ pay to
represent a disciplinary suspension for his negligence. He also recommended
that Parker not be assigned the AR-15 nor be appointed to the SWAT team without
the prior written approval of the Sheriff and the Board.
Board of Supervisors’ Decision
The hearing
officer’s decision was submitted to the Board for final action. The Board
disagreed with the hearing officer’s findings and conclusions. It rejected the
hearing officer’s decision, independently reviewed the entire record, and made
its own findings and conclusions. The Board issued its written decision
around December 14, 2004.
The Board concluded that “this case does not hinge on whether
Parker was ‘trained’ or ‘qualified’ on the AR-15. Instead, the crucial issue is one of basic firearm safety
in the handling of weapons - an area in which Parker was fully trained.”
The Board noted that Parker had been trained in basic firearm safety that
applies to all firearms, not just the AR-15, in the Coast Guard, in his academy
training at Hartnell Junior College and Monterey Peninsula College, in his work
with a field training officer at the Sheriff’s Office, and in his SWAT
training. In addition, the department posted universal firearm safety rules and
continually reinforced basic firearm safety rules at regular qualification
shoots for the patrol officers. Parker admitted that there was no training the department could have
given him to cause him to remember to “safe” his weapon and that his failure to
do so after the August 5, 2002 mission was due to being tired, not a lack of
training.
The Board observed that Parker had many opportunities to avert
the shooting, but failed to do so. The Board stated that Parker failed to
follow basic safety practices and make his weapon safe after completing the
SWAT mission on August 5, 2002. He failed to unload the weapon and store it properly when he returned
to the Salinas station. At that time, he should have removed the magazine,
unloaded any rounds from the chamber, and placed the selector switch on “safe.”
He failed to check the rifle after taking it from the Salinas station. When he
went to the embroidery shop, he should have left the gun in his locker and just
taken the case. He did not check the gun when he removed it from his locker in
King City. He should have left the rifle locked in his truck. He should have
made sure it was safe in the shop and violated a fundamental rule of gun safety
when he allowed Mr. Ingalls to walk in front of the muzzle of the gun.
The Board noted that the hearing officer’s recommendation to
reinstate Parker was based solely on a “ ‘disparate impact’ “ theory regarding
disciplinary action for the negligent shooting and disagreed with the hearing
officer’s analysis comparing this case to other cases involving accidental
shootings by sheriff deputies. The Board focused on the two cases involving
accidental shootings by deputies Carreras and Dyck that resulted in personal
injuries. It rejected the hearing officer’s conclusion that the cases were
similar to this case and found that the cases were dissimilar. The Board
reasoned that deputies Carreras and Dyck were both acting in the course and
scope of their duties and had legitimate reasons to have their weapons drawn,
whereas Parker was off duty when the shooting occurred. The Board found that
the shooting involving Deputy Carreras, while accidental, was not negligent
since the officer had a legitimate reason to have his handgun drawn and his
finger on the trigger. In the Dyck case, there was a finding of negligence.
While the deputy had the right to draw his weapon, his finger should not have
been on the trigger and the deputy’s negligence consisted of the failure to
recognize the potential for cross-neurological reflex and avoid it. The Board
contrasted the cases involving no negligence or a single act of negligence with
the instant case involving multiple acts of negligence. It observed that the
Dyck case did not involve serious injury; the Carreras case, which involved the
shooting of a fellow officer, did not result in a lawsuit or media coverage. In
contrast, this case resulted in a lawsuit with large-scale legal liability for
the county and intense media coverage that tarnished the department’s
reputation in the community. For these reasons, the Board rejected the hearing
officer’s finding that the shootings were similar and his conclusion that the
similarities required that Parker be treated similarly with regard to
discipline.
The Board made findings regarding Parker’s credibility. However,
the Board took “a different view of the matters about which Parker was not
truthful.” It concluded that “his lack of candor was not so much intentionally
deceitful as it [was] more a denial of, and refusal by Parker to accept, responsibility
for his negligent actions. . . . In denying the training he received in the use of the AR-15 . . .
Parker trie[d] to lay the blame for his multiple acts of negligence elsewhere.”
The Board concluded that Parker was subject to discipline under
Sheriff’s Department Manual section 205.03 (hereafter “section 205.03”),
subdivisions C and L. Since the Board had no precedential disciplinary appeal
decisions to rely on, it looked to the statutory grounds for discipline set
forth in Government Code section 19572, subdivisions (c), (d), and (t), which
it concluded were substantially similar to section 205.03, subdivisions C and
L, for guidance.
The Board
found that Parker’s actions amounted to negligence in the handling of his AR-15
and were grounds for discipline under section 205.03, subdivision C, which
authorizes dismissal for “Inefficiency or negligence in the performance of
duties”. It noted that Parker had failed to make the AR-15 safe, either at the
location of the August 5, 2002 SWAT mission or later at the Salinas office, in
violation of workplace rules. Parker also transported his fully loaded rifle to
the King City station and placed it in his locker, in violation of common sense
and Department policy for the safe use of firearms. The Board reasoned
that Parker should have left the gun in his locker on August 20, 2002, since it
was irrelevant to the embroidery of the bag. It found Parker committed a “gross
failure of professional judgment” when he made a conscious decision to leave
the rifle in the gun case, when it was not necessary for his purpose and there
were several alternatives available to him. It also concluded that Parker
negligently allowed his finger to engage the trigger as he attempted to pull
the gun from the bag when he knew or should have known Mr. Ingalls was
approaching the counter and walking into his direct line of fire. The Board
held that this violated basic firearm safety rules and General Order No. 58,
which provides that firearms shall never be pointed at anyone unless the deputy
intends to shoot.
The Board also concluded that Parker’s conduct was also grounds
for discipline under subdivision L of section 205.03, which authorizes the
employer to dismiss an employee for: “Conduct, either during or outside of duty
hours, which adversely affects the employee’s job performance or operation of
the Department, or harms the reputation of the Department with other
governmental agencies with which the Department interacts.” The Board stated
that this was equivalent to Government Code section 19572, subdivision (t),
which authorizes discipline for: “Other failure of good behavior either during
or outside of duty hours, which is of such a nature that it causes discredit to
the appointing authority or the person’s employment.” The Board concluded that
Parker’s conduct had a significant negative impact on the Sheriff’s Office’s
reputation in the community since it was a matter of county-wide interest that
was reported in the media over a protracted period of time.
The Board reviewed the propriety of the termination under the
factors set forth in Skelly, supra, 15 Cal.3d at page 218 and concluded it was
appropriate to uphold the Sheriff’s decision to terminate Parker. The Board
also noted that even if Parker had been found truthful in his interview
responses and his testimony at the hearing, he should be dismissed because of
multiple acts of gross negligence in handling the AR-15.
Petition for Writ of Mandate in Superior
Court
On February
10, 2005, Petitioners filed a petition for writ of mandate in the superior
court against Monterey County (the County) and the Board challenging the
Board’s decision. Petitioners argued that the Board abused its discretion in
evaluating the termination for dishonesty because it relied on grounds that had
not been charged in the notice of discipline. They also contended there
was insufficient evidence to support the dishonesty charge. Petitioners argued
that the Board abused its discretion by terminating Parker when the department
had consistently imposed lesser discipline in similar cases and that the
punishment was excessive.
The County and the Board argued the Board did not abuse its
discretion when it terminated Parker because this case was not similar to the
other cases involving accidental shootings resulting in injury to persons. They
argued the findings supported the decision to terminate Parker for dishonesty
and that the punishment was not excessive.
The court denied the petition. The court agreed that this case
was distinguishable from the two other shooting cases that resulted in injury
to persons. The court observed that the nature of the penalty is left to the
discretion of the Sheriff’s Office and that while reasonable minds might differ
regarding the propriety of terminating Parker, the Board had not abused its
discretion in this case. With
regard to the issue of dishonesty, the court found that while the Board agreed
that Parker was not untruthful during the internal affairs investigation, the
Board went beyond the findings of the hearing officer in assessing Parker’s
honesty. However, the court concluded there was no error in this, since the Board
made clear that even if Parker had been truthful, he would have been dismissed
for his acts of gross negligence in handling the rifle.
DISCUSSION
I. Contentions
Parker contends his due process rights were violated because his
termination was based on charges he had no notice of. He contends the Board
relied on statutory authority and new charges of dishonesty that were not set
forth in the Notice of Punitive Action. He also asserts the Board’s finding
that other negligent discharge cases were dissimilar was not supported by
substantial evidence. Parker argues that substantial evidence does not support
the Board’s decision to distinguish this case from six other cases of
accidental discharge on the basis that this case involved human injury, as
opposed to property damage. He argues that the decision to terminate him was an
abuse of discretion because it was the result of disparate treatment and was
not supported by the evidence.
II. Standard of Review
“The applicable standards of review at the superior court and
appellate court levels differ depending upon which issues are under review.”
(Deegan v. City of Mountain View (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 37, 45 (Deegan).)
Where the petitioner claims that the findings of the
administrative entity are not supported by the evidence, one of two standards
applies depending on the nature of the rights involved. If the decision
substantially affected a “fundamental vested right,” the superior court
exercises its independent judgment on the evidence in the administrative record
in order to determine whether the findings are supported by the weight of the
evidence. (Strumsky v. San Diego County Employees Retirement Assn. (1974) 11
Cal.3d 28, 32 ; Code Civ. Proc., § 1094.5, subd. (c).) In all other cases, the
superior court’s review is limited to examining the administrative record to
determine whether the decision was supported by substantial evidence. Even
where the trial court exercises its independent judgment, however, it still
“must afford a strong presumption of correctness concerning the administrative
findings. . . . [T]he party challenging the administrative decision bears the
burden of convincing the court that the administrative findings are contrary to
the weight of the evidence.” (Fukuda v. City of Angels (1999) 20 Cal.4th 805,
817 (Fukada).)
It has been held that discipline imposed on public employees
affects their fundamental vested right in their employment. (Boctor v. Los
Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 560,
572-573 (Boctor).) Accordingly, the superior court was required to exercise its
independent judgment on the evidence and find an abuse of discretion if the
Board’s findings were not supported by the weight of the evidence. (Id. at p.
573.)
In exercising its independent judgment, the trial court examines
the entire administrative record and reviews evidence both in support of, and
in conflict with, the administrative agency’s findings. (Deegan, supra, 72
Cal.App.4th at p. 45, citing Code Civ. Proc., § 1094.5, subd. (c) and Bixby v.
Pierno (1971) 4 Cal.3d 130, 143-144 (Bixby).) “The trial court resolves
evidentiary conflicts and is required to assess witnesses’ credibility and to
arrive at its own independent findings of fact.” (Deegan, at p. 45.)
An appellate court reviewing the superior court’s decision
applies the substantial evidence standard regardless of what standard was
applied by the superior court. (Fukuda, supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 824; Malibu Mountains
Recreation, Inc. v. County of Los Angeles (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 359, 368.) The
substantial evidence test on appeal is applied either to the trial court
judgment or to the administrative decision, depending on whether the superior
court exercised independent judgment or applied the substantial evidence test.
(See Fort Mojave Indian Tribe v. Department of Health Services (1995) 38
Cal.App.4th 1574, 1590.) If the superior court has exercised its independent
judgment, the appellate court will review the record to determine whether the
trial court’s findings are supported by substantial evidence. (Bixby , supra, 4
Cal.3d at pp. 143-144; Deegan, supra, 72 Cal.App.4th at p. 45.)
“With respect to the question of penalty, the superior court’s
powers of review are quite limited, and are exercised only with great deference
to the administrative agency’s findings. (Cummings v. Civil Service Com. (1995)
40 Cal.App.4th 1643, 1652.) Neither the trial court nor the appellate court is
entitled to substitute its discretion for that of the administrative agency
concerning the degree of punishment imposed. (Ibid.) The trial court may vacate
but not modify the agency’s determination of penalty if it finds a manifest
abuse of discretion. (Ibid.) The appellate court conducts a de novo review of
the penalty assessed, giving no deference to the trial court’s determination.
Again, the appellate court reviews the agency’s selection of penalty and, if
reasonable minds can differ with regard to the propriety of the disciplinary
action, it finds no abuse of discretion.” (Deegan, supra, 72 Cal.App.4th at pp.
45-46, italics added.) “It is only in the exceptional case, when it is shown
that reasonable minds cannot differ on the propriety of the penalty, that an
abuse of discretion is shown.” (Id. at p. 47.)
With regard to the question whether there was a “fair trial,”
within the meaning of Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5, subdivision (b),
courts have held that this does not mandate “a formal hearing under the due
process clause.” (Pomona College v. Superior Court (1996) 45 Cal.App.4th 1716,
1730.) The “fair trial” requirement of section 1094.5 is not synonymous with
constitutional due process. (Ibid.) What is required is simply that there be a
“fair administrative hearing,” (ibid.) affording the appellant a “ ‘ “reasonable
opportunity to be heard.” ‘ “ (Rodriguez v. Department of Real Estate (1996) 51
Cal.App.4th 1289, 1297; Pinsker v. Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists
(1974) 12 Cal.3d 541, 555.) As our Supreme Court has explained, the requirement
of fair procedure “does not compel formal proceedings with all the
embellishments of a court trial . . . nor adherence to a single mode of
process. It may be satisfied by any one of a variety of procedures which afford
a fair opportunity for an applicant to present his position.” (Id. at p. 555,
citation omitted.) Where an appellant claims that he or she did not receive a
fair trial or that the agency did not proceed in the manner required by law, we
will uphold the trial court’s decision if it is supported by substantial
evidence. (Vollstedt v. City of Stockton (1990) 220 Cal.App.3d. 265, 273.) If
the evidence is undisputed, we independently review the fair trial issue for
abuse of discretion (ibid.; Rosenblit v. Superior Court (1991) 231 Cal.App.3d
1434, 1444; Wood v. City Civil Service Commission (1975) 45 Cal.App.3d 105,
111) and reverse only if the alleged error prejudicially affected Parker’s
substantial rights. (California Administrative Mandamus (Cont.Ed.Bar 2007) §
6.57, pp. 202-203, citing Leal v. Gourley (2002) 100 Cal.App.4th 963, 969 and
other cases.)
III. Notice Issues
Parker contends his due process rights were violated because, in
upholding his termination, the Board improperly relied on matter that was not
set forth in the Notice of Punitive Action, including Government Code section
19572, subdivision (t) and four new charges of dishonesty.
A. Government Code
section 19572, subdivision (t)
The Notice of Punitive Action (Notice) stated that Parker was in
violation of section 205.03 and set forth the applicable portions of the
provision as: “No permanent employee of the Department may be dismissed except
for one or more of the following causes: [P] A. Dishonesty. [P] B.
Incompetence. [P] C. Inefficiency or negligence in the performance of duties.
[P] D. Neglect of duty. [P] ... [P] L. Conduct, either during or outside of
duty hours, which adversely affects the employee’s job performance or operation
of the Department, or harms the reputation of the Department with other
governmental agencies with which the Department interacts. [P] ... [P] Q.
Making a false official statement or falsifying records and/or reports.” The
Notice did not mention Government Code section 19572.
Parker argues that section 205.03 lists the exclusive grounds
for dismissing a permanent employee. Moreover, he asserts that the Board based
his termination in substantial part on subdivision L of section 205.03; that
this subdivision was “nearly the entire basis of the Board’s decision to
terminate” him. As noted previously, subdivision L provides that a Sheriff’s
Office employee may be dismissed for “Conduct, either during or outside of duty
hours, which adversely affects the employee’s job performance or operation of
the Department, or harms the reputation of the Department with other
governmental agencies with which the Department interacts.” In its decision,
the Board stated “[t]his provision is the equivalent of Government Code section
19572 [subdivision] (t).” Parker challenges this conclusion, arguing that the
Government Code provision is far more extensive than section 205.03. Government
Code section 19572, subdivision (t) provides that grounds for disciplining a
state civil service employee include: “Other failure of good behavior either
during or outside of duty hours, which is of such a nature that it causes
discredit to the appointing authority or the person’s employment.” Parker
argues that the two provisions are not equal. He asserts section 205.03
prohibits off-duty conduct that harms the department’s reputation with other
governmental agencies, while Government Code section 19572, subdivision (t) is
broader because it prohibits any conduct that causes discredit to the
appointing agency. Moreover, he contends the Board did not make a finding and
there was no evidence that the Sheriff’s Office’s relationship with other
governmental agencies was negatively impacted in any way.
The County and the Board do not respond to these contentions.
The liberal rules of administrative pleading require only that
the respondent be informed of the substance of the charge and afforded the
basic, appropriate elements of procedural due process. (Cooper v. Board of
Medical Examiners (1975) 49 Cal.App.3d 931, 942.) A variance between the
allegations of a pleading and the proof is not a basis for reversal unless it
prejudicially misleads a party in maintaining his or her action or defense on
the merits and may be disregarded when the action has been as fully and fairly
tried on the merits. (Ibid.; Franz v. Board of Medical Quality Assurance (1982)
31 Cal.3d 124, 143-144.) However, if a particular violation is not alleged in
the charging document, it is error for the administrative agency to discipline
an individual based on that charge. (Wheeler v. State Bd. of Forestry (1982)
144 Cal. App.3d 522, 526-527 [error to discipline for “gross incompetence” when
accusation charged “deceit, misrepresentation or fraud”].)
Although Parker contends the Board relied primarily on section
205.03, subdivision L, our review of the Board’s decision reveals that it
relied primarily on subdivision C of section 205.03 (“Inefficiency or
negligence in the performance of duties”). The Board devoted over two pages of
its decision to discussing the various ways the Parker was negligent in
handling the AR-15 between the end of the SWAT mission and the time of the
shooting. In contrast, in discussing subdivision L of section 205.03, it states
merely that Parker’s “conduct during off-duty hours significantly negatively
impacted the Sheriff’s and the Sheriff’s Office’s reputation in the community.
It was a matter of County-wide interest that was reported in the media over a
protracted period of time.” We therefore disagree with Parker’s conclusion that
subdivision L was “nearly the entire basis” for his termination.
Moreover, section 205.03, subdivision L sets forth more than one
ground for discipline. It provides that an employee may be dismissed for
conduct on or off duty that that (1) “adversely affects the employee’s job
performance or operation of the Department” or (2) “harms the reputation of the
Department with other governmental agencies with which the Department
interacts.” Parker’s notice argument focuses on the second prong of subdivision
L, but ignores the first prong. It was undisputed that the shooting of Don
Ingalls negatively impacted the reputation of the Sheriff’s Office and resulted
in a substantial legal liability and unwanted media attention. Accordingly, the
case falls under the first prong of subdivision L because it adversely affected
the operation of the department.
Finally, although the Board stated that section 205.03,
subdivision L “is the equivalent of Government Code § 19572(t),” it did not
analyze the statute or rely on or cite any cases that discuss the statute.
Since the Board’s conclusions fit under the express provisions
of section 205.03, subdivisions C and L, of which Parker had notice, we find no
prejudicial lack of notice resulting from the Board’s brief mention of
Government Code section 19572, subdivision (t) in its decision.
B. Four New Charges of
Dishonesty
Parker contends the termination decision should be vacated
because the Board failed to give him notice of four new charges of dishonesty.
The Notice of Punitive Action charged Parker with dishonesty in
his responses to questions during his two internal affairs interviews and
specified that he had been dishonest when he stated he had no training with the
SWAT rifle and had never qualified on his SWAT weapon. The notice also stated
that Parker had failed “to respond honestly to questions about [his] training
and about the incident resulting in Mr. Ingalls’[s] injury” during “the
internal affairs investigation.”
In its decision, under the Heading “Facts Relating to
Allegations of Untruthfulness,” the Board discussed Parker’s internal affairs
interviews and his testimony about his training and qualification on the AR-15,
as well as the testimony of other witnesses, in great detail. The Board
acknowledged that there may have been some confusion or miscommunication
regarding whether Parker ever formally qualified on the weapon. The Board
stated: “If the meaning of ‘training’ and ‘qualifications’ were the only areas
of misunderstanding or inconsistency in Parker’s answers during the [internal
affairs] investigation, the Board would have to agree with the Hearing
Officer’s determination that Parker was not untruthful. Unfortunately they are
not. In the end, however, this case does not hinge on whether Parker was
‘trained’ or ‘qualified’ on the AR-15. Instead the crucial issue is one of
basic firearm safety in handling weapons - an area in which Parker was fully
trained.”
After stating that conclusion, the Board discussed the four
areas that are at issue on appeal. The Board concluded Parker’s testimony about
the time of his doctor’s appointment on March 14, 2002 (the third day of the
basic SWAT training), and his absence from the training session on the
breakdown and cleaning of the AR-15 was not credible. The Board concluded that
Parker’s testimony regarding Sergeant Teeter’s response to his request to take
August 6, 2002, off because he had worked a double shift on August 5, 2002, was
untruthful. The Board discussed allegations that Parker was untruthful when he
stated that he did not make his weapon safe after the August 5, 2002 mission
because they were in a bad neighborhood, but did not make a finding. The Board
cited his testimony about his SWAT training and firearms training in the
internal affairs interview and at the hearing, but did not make a finding.
Parker argues the termination order must be vacated because he
was not put on notice of these “four new counts of dishonesty.” Again, the
County does not address this issue. n6
As noted above, the Board made factual findings regarding only
two of the areas in dispute. However, the Board took “a different view of the
matters about which Parker was not truthful.” It concluded that “his lack of
candor was not so much intentionally deceitful as it [was] more a denial of,
and refusal by Parker to accept, responsibility for his negligent actions. . .
. In denying the training he received in the use of the AR-15 . . . Parker
trie[d] to lay the blame for his multiple acts of negligence elsewhere.” In its
conclusion, the Board stated, “there is substantial evidence in the record to
support the proposition that Parker was less than forthright in both his
[internal affairs] interviews and in his testimony at the hearing. It is the
determination of the Board that even if Parker had been found truthful . . .,
he should still be dismissed because of his multiple acts of gross negligence
in the safe handling of his AR-15.”
In our
view, it was not inappropriate for the Board to make findings related to
Parker’s credibility as part of its overall review of the case. Although
the Board made express findings that Parker lied about the time of his doctor’s
appointment on March 14, 2002 and whether he was present at the training
session on the breakdown and cleaning of the AR-15 that day, as well as
Sergeant Teeter’s response to his request to take August 6, 2002, off, it is
not clear whether the Board based its decision to uphold the termination on
those findings. Reading the decision as a whole, it appears the Board
understood that Parker was charged with dishonesty in his responses about his
training and qualification on the AR-15. Assuming the Board relied on its two
dishonesty findings in upholding Parker’s termination, any error in doing so
because Parker was not charged with these two counts of dishonesty, was not
prejudicial. The Board clearly stated that Parker would have been dismissed for
his negligent handling of the AR-15, regardless of the findings on the
dishonesty issue.
Sufficiency of the
Evidence Supporting Conclusion that Other Negligent Discharge Cases Were
Dissimilar
Parker had
argued that termination was an excessive penalty in his case because no other
Sheriff’s Office deputies involved in accidental shootings had been terminated
by the Sheriff’s Office and his case was similar to eight other cases involving
accidental shootings. Parker contends the trial court’s finding that the
other accidental shooting cases involving Monterey County sheriff deputies were
dissimilar from this case was not supported by substantial evidence.
As noted previously, the superior court was required to exercise
its independent judgment on the evidence and find an abuse of discretion if the
Board’s findings were not supported by the weight of the evidence. (Boctor,
supra, 48 Cal.App.4th at p. 573.) On appeal, we review the record to determine
whether the trial court’s findings are supported by substantial evidence.
(Deegan, supra, 72 Cal.App.4th at p. 45.)
In our
view, the trial court’s finding that this case was dissimilar from the other
cases involving accidental shootings was supported by substantial evidence. The
parties presented evidence regarding eight other cases involving accidental
shootings. Six resulted in property damage; two resulted in personal injuries.
None of the officers in the other eight cases were terminated.
We begin by noting that all but one of the other shooting incidents
involved either the Glock semi-automatic handgun or the Remington model 870
shotgun that the deputies carry on patrol, while this case involved Parker’s
SWAT weapon, the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. The distinction is important
because there was testimony that department policy differed regarding the
handling of each weapon. Sergeant Clark, the department’s training manager, and
Deputy Don Dietrich, a certified firearms instructor, testified that department
policy required that while the officer is on duty, the Glock handgun is
supposed to be fully loaded with one round in the chamber in a holster. The
Glock has no external safety mechanism. There are three or four internal safety
mechanisms. If the officer takes his or her finger off the trigger and puts it
outside the trigger guard, all of the handgun’s safety mechanisms are deployed.
The shotgun is supposed to have four rounds loaded in the
spring-fed tube magazine, with none in the chamber until it is being deployed.
It is stored with the safety off and the hammer down so all the officer has to
do is remove the weapon from the lock in the patrol car and work the slide to
bring the first round into the chamber.
The AR-15
rifle, whether assigned to a patrol deputy or a SWAT team member, is supposed
to be stored with the magazine out and the chamber unloaded until the weapon is
deployed.
The only other case that involved the accidental discharge of an
AR-15 was distinguishable from this case. Deputy Duanes had been carrying an
AR-15 rifle around in his patrol car for about one month with a round in the
chamber, in violation of department policy. One day, while on duty, Duanes
checked the weapon and it accidentally discharged, damaging the light bar on a
patrol car. Unlike Parker, to ensure proper firearm safety, Duanes pointed the
weapon away from a nearby fellow officer. Thus, no persons were injured.
We agree with both the trial court and the hearing officer that
it was reasonable to distinguish between cases that involved property damage and
those that resulted in personal injury. Four of the six property damage cases
resulted in damage to patrol cars. In one case, the officer damaged the ceiling
in the department’s underground parking garage. In the other, the officer
damaged the walls and a bathroom mirror of a hotel room.
Only two of the other accidental shooting cases involved injury
to persons, the shootings involving Deputy Carreras and Deputy Dyck.
In 1998, Deputy Carreras accidentally discharged his Glock
pistol at a SWAT training session, injuring a fellow deputy, Sergeant Teeter.
Again, department policy required that he carry the Glock with a round in the
chamber. Sergeant Teeter was shot in the abdomen, recovered fully from his
injuries, and returned to work for the department. The incident resulted in a
worker’s compensation claim against the County. The record does not contain
much information regarding the mechanism of injury or the circumstances of the
shooting. n7 Deputy Dietrich opined
that Carreras must have had his finger on the trigger, inside the trigger
guard, before he was on target with what he intended to shoot. According to
Sheriff Kanalakis, Carreras was not disciplined; nothing in the record suggests
that any allegations of negligence were made against Carreras.
On July 9, 2003, Deputy Dyck shot a suspect with his Glock
pistol while on patrol. Deputy Dyck received a call regarding a disturbance
with people fighting in the street. He responded with other deputies. When he
arrived on the scene, there were several people milling around the area. He lit
them up with a spotlight and saw one man duck into the darkness, out of view.
The suspect came walking out of the darkness. Deputy Dyck drove down the road
to detain the suspect. The deputy opened the door to his patrol car, crept
along behind the suspect, and ordered him to stop. The suspect failed to stop.
He “hunked down” and put his hands in his waistband, where the officer could
not see them. Deputy Dyck deployed his Glock pistol, pointed it at the suspect,
and decided to get out of the car and engage the suspect on foot. As he placed
the patrol car in park, the pistol discharged, striking the suspect in the back
of the head. The bullet entered beneath the skin, skidded along the skull and
exited the opposite side. The suspect was treated and released from the
hospital with in a day or two.
Deputy Dietrich testified that Dyck’s weapon was properly
charged and drawn and that Dyck violated department policy when he placed his
finger on the trigger. Although the review process had not been completed, the
department recommended Dyck be suspended for three weeks, with one week held in
abeyance.
Both deputies Carreras and Dyck were on duty, using their Glock
pistols when the shootings occurred. Even Deputy Duanes, the only other officer
using an AR-15 at the time of the accidental shooting, was on duty when the
accidental discharge causing property damage occurred. Although Parker was
attempting to comply with the SWAT team leaders’ directive to get his name on
his gun case, he was off duty with a cover jacket over his uniform, when the
incident occurred. Both Carreras and Dyck had their weapons properly charged
and drawn. Parker did not even need to bring the rifle into the store or take
it out of his locker to accomplish his task. Department policy authorized the
officers to carry the Glock on duty with a round in the chamber. Department
policy required Parker to store and to carry the AR-15 with the magazine out
and the chamber empty. Deputy Dietrich testified that deputies Dyck and Duanes
did not blame others for the situation or complain that they had not received
sufficient training on their weapons. There was no evidence the Dyck shooting
exposed the county to costly litigation or unwanted media attention, like the
Parker shooting.
For all
these reasons, we conclude there was substantial evidence to support the trial
court’s conclusions that the Parker shooting was dissimilar from other
shootings that had resulted in discipline short of termination.
Excessiveness of Penalty
Parker contends the Board abused its discretion when it upheld
his termination because the termination was a result of disparate treatment and
an incomplete application of the Skelly factors.
As noted previously, we review the Board’s selection of penalty
for an abuse of discretion and, if reasonable minds can differ with regard to
the propriety of the disciplinary action, there was no abuse of discretion.
(Deegan, supra, 72 Cal.App.4th at pp. 45-46.) “It is only in the exceptional
case, when it is shown that reasonable minds cannot differ on the propriety of
the penalty, that an abuse of discretion is shown.” (Id. at p. 47.)
We have already
rejected Parker’s contention that his termination was the result of disparate
treatment when we concluded that there was substantial evidence that supported
the trial court’s determination that this case was not similar to other
accidental shooting cases that resulted in the imposition of lesser forms of
discipline.
With regard to Parker’s second point, we begin by examining the
language form Skelly. The Skelly court stated: “Generally speaking, ‘[i]n a
mandamus proceeding to review an administrative order, the determination of the
penalty by the administrative body will not be disturbed unless there has been
an abuse of its discretion.’ [Citations.] Nevertheless, while the
administrative body has a broad discretion in respect to the imposition of a
penalty or discipline, ‘it does not have absolute and unlimited power. It is
bound to exercise legal discretion, which is, in the circumstances, judicial
discretion.’ [Citations.] In considering whether such abuse occurred in the
context of public employee discipline, we note that the overriding
consideration in these cases is the extent to which the employee’s conduct
resulted in, or if repeated is likely to result in, ‘[h]arm to the public
service.’ [Citations.] Other relevant factors include the circumstances
surrounding the misconduct and the likelihood of its recurrence.” (Skelly,
supra, 15 Cal.3d at pp. 217-218.)
A. Circumstances
Surrounding the Incident
The Board reviewed the Skelly factors in its decision. With
regard to the circumstances surrounding the incident, it observed that the
incident was due to multiple acts and omissions by Parker and that Parker had
several opportunities to prevent the accident from happening by checking his
rifle: “at the SWAT mission site, at the Salinas station, when he put it in his
patrol car on August 5th, when he removed and placed it in his King City
locker.” The Board also observed that during the two weeks prior to the
incident, Parker had “ample opportunity to recall that he had not ‘safed’ his
AR-15.” In addition, he had multiple opportunities to inspect the weapon before
taking it into the embroidery shop. It concluded that “[h]is multiple failures
to unload his weapon for two weeks after the August 5th SWAT callout are
inexcusable for a peace officer since safe handling of . . . weapons is a
fundamental job duty.” In addition, we note that Parker did not even need to
take the gun out of his locker or could have left it locked in his truck when
he took the gun case to Ingalls’s shop. Finally, he did not observe basic gun
safety and insure that the gun was not pointed in the direction of any persons
before attempting to extract it from the case.
Parker argues the Board ignored several mitigating circumstances
that require imposition of a lesser penalty, including the facts that he
assumed he had unloaded the AR-15, that it was his first search warrant
mission, that the SWAT team had unloaded as a group on previous missions, and
that by the time the mission was over, he had worked a double shift. A review of
the Board’s decision shows that they were aware of all these facts. Moreover,
there was evidence that it was Parker’s responsibility to advise his superiors
that the SWAT mission would keep him on the job beyond the 16 hours maximum
authorized by the department.
B. Likelihood of Recurrence
With regard to the likelihood of recurrence, the Board
acknowledged that Parker had admitted the shooting was his fault. However, it
concluded that “[i]nstead of taking personal responsibility and showing at
least some minimum level of insight and learning from this experience,” Parker
blamed his wife for suggesting they go into the embroidery shop, blamed Mrs.
Ingalls for telling him to remove the gun from the bag, blamed the Sheriff’s
Office for not training him on the AR-15, blamed Sergeant Teeter for not giving
him time off the day after the SWAT mission, and denied his finger ever engaged
the trigger. The Board observed further: “Parker excuses himself from
compliance with the basic workplace firearms safety rules on the basis of
tiredness and forgetfulness.” The Board found this “very discomforting.” It
concluded that Parker’s attitude about these matters “opens the door for future
firearm accidents and future unwarranted County liability” and that his “lack
of insight into the causes of this negligent but accidental shooting makes it
more likely than not that Mr. Parker will . . . repeat the negligent acts that
were the root cause of the . . . shooting.”
C. Harm to the Public Service
The final
factor the Board considered was the extent to which Parker’s conduct resulted
in, or if repeated is likely to result in, harm to the public service. The
Board stated the concern about future negligent acts left it and the Sheriff’s
Office “with little or no trust and confidence in Parker’s safe handling and
use of firearms, or his professional judgment.” It expressed a concern that
Parker’s personality traits would create more legal liability for the department
and the County in the future. It was concerned that if there was another
incident, the County would be accused of negligence because it had retained
Parker and noted that “[t]his is a prospect the County and members of the
public can ill afford.”
Although the Board’s decision focused on future liability, there
was evidence the incident had already resulted in harm to the public service. A
member of the public was seriously injured in the shooting and suffered
long-term permanent injuries. As a result of the incident, the Ingallses sued
the County, resulting in large-scale legal liability and the Sheriff’s Office’s
reputation was harmed by the unwanted media attention over a protracted period
of time.
Although
reasonable minds may differ as to the appropriate degree of punishment in this
case, we cannot say that Parker has met his burden of demonstrating an abuse of
discretion, which requires a showing that reasonable minds cannot differ on the
propriety of the penalty. Accordingly, we find no abuse of discretion in the
decision to terminate Parker.
Disposition
The judgment of the superior court is affirmed.
McAdams, J.
We concur:
Bamattre-Manoukian, Acting P.J.
Duffy, J.
Notes:
1 Operating Engineers Local
Union No. 3 (Union) and the Monterey County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
(Deputy Sheriffs’ Association) joined Parker in his petition. We shall
hereafter refer to the petitioners and appellants collectively as Petitioners.
2 The AR-15 is the civilian
version of the Colt M-16 military rifle (M-16). Some officers were issued
M-16’s, some were issued AR-15’s. Although the record mentions both the M-16
and the AR-15, we shall hereafter refer to these weapons collectively as the
AR-15.
3 Skelly v. State Personnel
Bd. (1975) 15 Cal.3d 194 (Skelly).
4 The Notice of Punitive
Action stated: “Placed in their factual context, the grounds stated for your
termination are about the most serious allegations that can be made against a
peace officer. Your actions were grossly negligent and have inappropriately
exposed the County . . . to unnecessary large-scale legal liability. During the
investigation of this matter, you have failed to represent either the Sheriff’s
Office or County values as they relate to honesty and integrity. Considering
the gravity of your actions, and your failure in the internal affairs
investigation to respond honestly to questions about your training and about
the incident . . ., I no longer have faith and confidence in your ability to
properly perform the duties of your position.”
5 The hearing officer and
the parties referred to the evidentiary hearing as an “arbitration” and to the
hearing officer as an “arbitrator.”
6 The respondent’s brief in
this case, except for the sections setting forth the standard of review and the
discussion of the penalty issue, merely restates whole portions of the Board’s
decision verbatim. As the court stated in Marriage of Shaban (2001) 88
Cal.App.4th 398, 410, footnote omitted, “appellate practice entails rigorous
original work in its own right. The appellate practitioner who takes trial
level points and authorities [or in this case the Board’s decision] and,
without reconsideration or additional research, merely shovels them in to an appellate
brief, is producing a substandard product.” Appellate attorneys who use
material from prior proceedings should take care to adapt the material to the
altered focus of appellate review. Arguments should be tailored to the
applicable standards of review and points that are irrelevant to the appeal
should be omitted. (Seabago, Inc. v. City of Alameda (1989) 211 Cal. App.3d
1372, 1387-1388.)
7 Parker’s opening brief
states facts regarding the Carreras shooting that were not part of the record
below and are not supported by any citation to the record. A fundamental rule
of appellate review is that documents and facts that were not presented to the
trial court and are not part of the record cannot be considered on appeal. We
shall therefore disregard this improper matter. (Pulver v. Avco Financial
Services (1986) 182 Cal.App.3d 622, 632; Kendall v. Barker (1988) 197
Cal.App.3d 619, 625.)