Three Manhattan Beach police officers were officially fired Friday for their roles in the alleged coverup of a 2010 hit-and-run crash and will no longer earn their salaries after collecting nearly $500,000 while on administrative leave.
The dismissals of Richard Hatten, Kristopher Thompson and Eric Eccles were confirmed by City Manager Dave Carmany. A fourth Police Department employee, Bryan Klatt, has been demoted from the rank of lieutenant to officer.
The announcement was the first time the names of the department personnel involved in the incident have been released publicly by the city.
"I wish them the best in their future endeavors," Carmany said. "It wasn't a snap decision. These officers have been on paid administrative leave for more than one year. The final outcome is always closely reviewed for a result that is just and fair.
Carmany said that officers in Manhattan Beach are held to a high standard.
"This was not an easy thing," he said. "Firing a police officer is sometimes necessary, but only when all the other avenues fail to bring about the desired results."
Hatten, Thompson and Eccles were allegedly involved in the Jan. 31, 2010 crash on Sepulveda Boulevard in Manhattan Beach after leaving Grunion's bar, where they had been drinking off-duty.
The officers were reportedly riding in Hatten's Chevrolet Corvette at the time of the crash. No one was seriously hurt.
A fourth Manhattan Beach police officer, Jeff Goodrich, responded to the accident scene. After the crash, sources told the Daily Breeze that he did not file a police report after running the car's license plate number and learning it belonged to Hatten. Goodrich, who died of cancer in October, was placed on leave shortly after the crash.
Klatt was the watch commander on duty at the time and did not immediately inform the department's command staff, sources said.
Attorneys representing Eccles, Thompson and Hatten did not return phone messages and e-mails requesting comment. Klatt, who was placed on leave in February, could not be reached.
Until Friday, Hatten, Thompson and Eccles remained employed by the department, collecting about $485,815 in annual salary and benefit compensation, city records show. Goodrich, who was on leave for about nine months, earned about $138,575, including benefits.
The officers salaries were obtained through a public records request made by the Daily Breeze.
In the wake of the crash, two investigations were launched - a criminal probe and an internal review of the officer's conduct - by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The two reports were completed in January. Although details of the investigations have not been released, Thompson and Eccles were cleared of criminal wrongdoing. Both officers are Medal of Valor honorees.
Hatten is scheduled to return to court for a hearing on April 11. His trial is expected to occur about a month later.
Police Chief Rod Uyeda declined on Friday to discuss the decision.
"I cannot comment on the investigation or any personnel action, but wish those young men well in their future endeavors," Uyeda said in an e-mail.
In February, sources told the Daily Breeze that Hatten, Thompson, Eccles and Klatt were notified they would be fired. Under state law, they were then entitled to an administrative review - or Skelly Hearing - to appeal the decision with Uyeda.
The former officers can now further appeal their dismissal by requesting a hearing with an outside arbitrator or by the Los Angeles County Civil Services Commission.
If they are still unsuccessful, they could then file an appeal through the local and state court system, a process that could stretch for years.
Their cases could eventually be heard by the California Supreme Court, said David Mastagni, a Sacramento-based attorney who represents police officers in labor disputes.
If the officers win their appeals and are reinstated by the department, they would be entitled to back pay, Mastagni added.
"They can be on paid administrative leave until the imposition of discipline - which is typically after the internal affairs investigation and Skelly Hearing," Mastagni said. "After the determination of discipline is made they would not receive any pay."
The crash and ensuing investigations grabbed headlines and caught the community's attention.
In turn, Manhattan Beach Police Department officials declined to release details of the incident or findings of the investigations. In February, shortly after sources confirmed the three officers would be fired, Uyeda released a statement confirming that discipline had occurred.
"As for the issue of the discipline that the involved officers will face, pursuant to laws pertaining to personnel matters, my office cannot comment on the matter," Uyeda wrote. "As with all personnel matters involving police personnel, we will hold ourselves to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity while we continue to work hard to earn the public's trust."