Like many other people last year, we were deeply touched to see both City Manager Mike Flad and former Police Chief Tim Stehr suddenly show their deep concern for ethical propriety and the rule of law. It had been so unfair to them to have had this Porto’s thing hidden from their view for so long, and as we all know, as soon as they learned about it they quickly went to work to rid this cancer from our city. Just ask Anja Reinke, our new mayor.
Now, if only their own police officers had told them earlier about what had transpired during that investigation! Alas, it took the brave Angelo Dahlia to come forward and tell us the truth about all those bad apples in the department, and thank goodness he did, because only then was our Chief able to call in the Sheriffs to make sure that this behavior would never happen again.
So, is it their fault now that one of Neil Gunn Sr’s legacies would be to provide secret tape recordings that tell a different story? How were those two to know that their best-laid plans would go awry, and that the only people who would still believe them would be the only ones that really counted in the end — their council-member bosses?
How was Mike Parrinello to know that Gunn Sr. had made secret tape recordings of him mouthing off about the deal he had made with Stehr, to frame Bill Taylor for this Portos mess? Even worse, how were any of them to know that Gunn had had the foresight to make sure that his wife would be able to use them in civil court against the department, if necessary, to prove that they were all conspiring together in a coverup of a major civil rights violation?
In return for getting Stehr off the hook about an investigation-gone-sour that he’d not only sanctioned, but encouraged, Parrinello is also heard talking about the Quid pro quo he’d made with the Chief to give his BPOA buddies some big promotions. Stehr might be heard on the tape, too, chiming in. But how were they to know that Gunn Sr. would think enough to protect himself this way from the wrongful accusations that he knew would follow such a deal, especially since both he and Omar Rodriguez had also gone to the civilians at the same time– people like Dave Golonski and Marsha Ramos, and that threatening bully Joe Gunn of the police commission– to complain about this blatant frame-up and demotion of a top Burbank cop?
It turns out that Neil Gunn Sr. was smart. He made lots of secret tape recordings of many of these private conversations and accusations and recantations. And now his wife has them, and now her attorneys. So no matter how many top lieutenants have tried to sit in on these current depositions, as is their right, so that they could physically intimidate these witnesses from saying too much, which is sadly unavoidable, one thing is certain. The old management stories and excuses about Portos are not going to hold up.
Especially when they hear the one that has the top BPOA guy fessing up and blaming Stehr for the whole thing, right after he panics about the FBI coming in.
Someone really should make a movie about Burbank. Remember Boss Hog Golonski runs this town with his gang of three. It might be Mayor Anga Renke sitting in the mayors chair but many of us know she runs nothing. It’s all about feeling important for her so nothing really changes with Boss Hog Golonski pulling her strings.
When do we get to hear some of these tapes, can they be audio broadcast over the internet? The DA, FBI, Attorney General and Justice Dept need to hear them ASAP. Maybe someone in a higher authority will finally wake up and find out just how corrupt Burbank City Hall really is. Everyone should have realized when they gave away prime real estate, the old Police Block, for $100 to Cusamano when it was worth millions. That would have taken care of utility and water rate hikes for a very long time. Maybe these tapes will give them all away to Lady Justice.
Something that has disturbed me for a very long time are these secret meetings the city council attends.
I have long heard that various city employees are invited to see and hear these secret meetings yet the public is not allowed to know what the council is doing.
This is disturbing as the employees are just that employees. The citizens are the interested parties and should be able to know what our elected officials are doing at all times.
It would appear to me to be appropriate for the citizens to hear any tapes that exist so that we can know exactly what those representing us are doing and saying.
There is little doubt in my mind that the reason for so many secret meetings is that what is being done is at the very least dishonest. To read that it is even worse than dishonest is of no surprise to me at all due to the fact they have been doing so many things in secret for some years now.
It is time for change in Burbank
Well, Well, Well where is Leonidas when you need him hmmm ?
Imagine that tape recordings, maybe photographs and who know could there be personal notes back and forth between the BPD and City Hall ?
Imagine with conspiracies like this one just what has been happening to average citizens around Burbank for a while.
Anyone remember the jj Tripod capper ?
What’s next ? Mayor gate and vice mayor gate ? hmmm ya got to wonder now.
Like I said where is Leonidas when we need him.
I’d love to hear the words “:roll the tape” at the next meeting. Expect more “dark” days in the future when the shit starts hitting the fan. I just wish the Council would fire these crooks before they waltz out with big fat retirement plains. I’d expect Barlow is getting close to closing escrow in Utah real soon. And if Steir is still on the payroll these idiots deserve the shitty City they run.
Where’s the Chief? hello anybody home? knock knock your supposed to be protecting the public not hiding the weenie time fink up or fess up now unless you want to one of the co-conspirators down the line.
Imagine going to work every day in an environment so bad you feel a need to walk around wired for sound just to protect yourself because of everything that is going on. Terrible!
With people who run things saying one thing and then doing something else no wonder everything is a mess.
Good for the sgt. having the good sense to catch them and what they are doing on tape. That way everyone can hear for themselves what has really been going down.
These tapes should be hand delivered to the attorney general, the FBI and to every major news outlet so that they can not be destroyed before they are heard.
You got it I have little doubt that the persons in charge in Burbank would destroy evidence just as fast as they would create evidence.
So it appears that all the station break-ins and alleged illegal doings by Tim Stehr, Mike P, Darren Ryburn and the cronies in the BPD, backfired on them…
Why is this a surprise? Wasn’t Sgt Gunn in charge of Interal Affairs for 3 years. A person in that position knows how to cover themselves.
From the information provided in the post above, it would appear that Mike Parrinello is really screwed.
Now it sounds like Mike Paranello should bend over and grab his ankles. He just might want a stiff drink before he assumes the position on this one.
Maybe after if he gets lucky Bric will throw him a party at the bar. Maybe he and Tim can play pin the tail on the Paranello for a while.
Things that make you go hmmmm….while this is interesting and could provide some vindication for some and trouble for a whole lot….you can’t forget that while what Neil Sr. was part of the “blue gang.”
If true, what he did was smart…but it does not remove what a bad apple he became. If he was such a man of god….where did Corinthians 5:10 come into play?
But it didn’t, he was just as weak as the rest of the Blue Gang. He should of used his faith to guide him above this crap….jeeez, I could go on.
In the end, I’m just saying….Gunn is no martyr.
Think about this.
Many crimes are solved by an informant on the inside. Infact most gang and conspiricy crimes are solved in just that way.
The standard practice is to cut deals to people at the bottom of the command chain to get to the real criminals, the ones who give the orders and control the criminal activity.
It’s easy to say Sgt. Gunn was no martyr. Its even easier to say he committed some actions he should not have. Don’t forget where he worked and who ran the operation, it was not Sg Gunn.
If you are saying that no one should ever be cut a deal to turn states evidence that’s fine, but unless that;s what you are saying remember only those on the inside and part of the action know who gave the orders and who planned the criminal activity.
Justice has long used lesser players to go in wired to catch the ring leaders. So consider this, the blue gang took orders from somewhere. Their actions were reviewed and covered for a long time by someone. Who are those people and where are they working today ?
The blue gang can easily be replaced so long as the master minds and comanders of the gang remain in place. We need the lesser players to catch the real criminals plain and simple.
The city has tried to elimanate the lesser players and mainatin those giving the orders. What does that say about city leadership and the role they play.
It is good they waited this long to come out with this evidence. It allowed these officers to make some stories up and now they are married to them.
The council and city officials are going to have a hard time proving why a lot of “stones” were left unturned…mabye even rocks.
Good luck Mr. Flad…I hear your case against Bill Taylor is going to get dicey.
Oh!
How silly the city council will look after their oh so exhaustive investigations and high priced attorneys are proven to be wrong and by tape recordings no less!
What a perfect time for “no stone unturned Reinke” and ” a few bad apples Reinke” to be mayor. She will be able to explain to all of us how she missd so many stones and why she missd the truely bad apples!
My oh my the big union bosses are part of the action. Will wonders never cease!
I think former Mayor Bric is about to have a whole lot of explaining to do. We all know why the city council was told they could not see anything. It was because there was really nothing to see at all. How much money did they spend over turning all the rocks and finding all the truth ? Is it a million of our dollars or is it more ?
Will the Burbank Leader start the presses and print the transcripts of the tapes for all of us to read ? I would actually buy a copy to read this!
Another member of the BPD walked out today!!!!
Was it MikeParrinello? No, not yet.Was it Henry Garay? No, but definately somebody who should be investigated. Was it Varner? No, but he’s pretty good at screwing other officers wives. Was it Darren Ryburn? No, but it was somebody that Ryburn knows well….or at least used to
Someone brouight up the station break in’s again. The only place I ever see that brought up is on the blogs. Why doesn’t the city council ever talk about that ? Come on people if there are break in’s at the police station that is big news and I want to know about it. I think we all have a right to know about it.
Watched the change in mayor at the city web site on demand. Ok so they talked about all the things that happend when Brick was mayor but they left all the police stuff and all the lawsuits out. Why didn’t they include those things it happened while Brick was the mayor. They tried to make him look great saying he opened a new park and that is a big so what.
Thanks Dan…I know what you’re saying. But Gunn had a choice. Ultimately, he made the wrong one. I feel sorry the environment existed but not for the person. More times than not, an insider is still guilty…..deals or not.
Burbank Resident,
Here’s a link to the new Mayor ask her the question, because I asked all of them and got the see no evil hear no evil speak no evil look.
areinke@ci.burbank.ca.us
Please post her reply.
semi you sure have a strange definition of “smart”. semi writes this about neil gunn, “It turns out that Neil Gunn Sr. was smart. He made lots of secret tape recordings of many of these private conversations and accusations and recantations. And now his wife has them, and now her attorneys”.
how in the world can you call this man smart? how is it smart to make recordings that can allegedly prove your case and then put a shotgun to your chest and pull the trigger? maybe i’m stupid, but wouldn’t it be a bit smarter to make the recordings, use them to prove your case, and then NOT kill yourself? wouldn’t it be smarter to still provide for your family, still be around for your wife, kids, grandchildren? wouldn’t it be smarter to save your career and prove your innocence than be dead?
no semi, neil gunn was not a smart man. in fact any reasonable person knows he killed himself because he did some very dumb, very bad things and got caught. he killed himself to avoid termination and possibly prison. his family’s lawsuit will undoubtedly fail like all the others.
Maybe he was depressed at the inanity of it all. And why should anyone have to prove their innocence? How do you ever do that?
I love the modern age of recording. This should be released as part of Burbank’s Greatest Hits. This Paranello sounds like a real problem for the city at this point.
Lets not forget the other lawsuits that are still pending. I hear Barlow and Co. now have some problems with evidence statutes. Is the Portos investigation going to be slammed?
Why is Rosoff, Lynch, JJ and this Parrinelo guy still cops? Are they being protected because the city needs to choose sides against Taylor?
This is nuts…I am writing a letter to the Attorney General!
While it’s fun to kick the EVANs dude at the LEADER around, something curious is going on right under our noses.
More than a handful of us have known of the recorded conversations for over seven weeks, and suspected their existence even longer.
From some of the wording in many Posts over recent months and the timing of the day, maybe we’re missing an old lawyer trick.
Please bear with me.
What if the “G” guy lawyer has a Public Relations puke who has been selectively planting emails and other items with Semi?
What if that one sided information has influenced our thinking of Semi’s credibility? Worse yet, what if the one sided info has influenced Semi’s thinking?
Over time we’ve learned that the World can always use another Good Lawyer.
Lord only knows He hasn’t ever delivered enough of them.
Word has it that the “walk out” was a well regarded member of Dispatch. No indication, other than female.
I know the G-man’s PR guy and he never plants anything with me. One time he sent me some depo transcripts. That’s it.
The tapes have been known about for months– what wasn’t known was the extent of them, or how they would be used. I’ve also held off on the Gunn story by request, since fall.
Dixie
It does not matter to me who has what because something that really bothers me is we get no information from the city council. Those jerks act like we have no problems and nothing is going wrong at all. If it’s a PR guy or a G guy or whoever it is does not matter to me at all I just want to hear – see – read what is really happening. I sure can’t find out by reading the city web site – or – reading the Burbank Leader – or – reading the Daily News – or – watching a city council meeting.
Who ever delivers information is delivering information and I applaud them for it.
Maybe Dixie is not as arrogant as we all thought. Planting false information in Semi’s head so he goes off on his little tangents and his little band of Dungeon and Dragon players get all excited, then go away when the truth is revealed. Just like when all the officers got fired, or law suits were dismissed with the plaintiffs ordered to pay back the tax-payers. Semi crawled under a rock and could not admit he was wrong. Freddie the Factman wants facts with backed up proof or don’t get all excited over Semi’s bad info. Sitting back and watching Semi get played like a fiddle is what keeps me coming back.
Freddie can want and desire lots of things, while receiving them would take recognition.
Many of us have been laboring for facts to be shared.
How many more tapes, who are the voices, what did they want—and what did they get, or hope to receive?
As we watch the lawyers play their hands of cards, we can only wonder what cards, if any, can the folks of Burbank hope to draw
The firing issue and when it made the “news” is very interesting. In the LEADER story the City wouldn’t confirm, the lawyer wouldn’t confirm and Mike P of BPOA fame made statements.
When’s the Bar-B-Que?.
Freddie, its funny how you want proof about stuff…can’t the same thing be said from these officers being place on adminstrative leave for no reason? When will the City release evidence or any proof that these officers did something wrong? Last time I looked at my Burbank Leader they tried firing Officer Munoz but had nothing on him and brought him back. Will this be the same for the other officers who have been place on leave with no proof? Freddie, if your buddies running the Burbank Police Department had any proof on anything or anybody, why did this Sheriff report come back with nothing.
I’m a lifelong citizen of Burbank that is sick and tired about what’s going on and worried about the city’s future…
Where is the leadership? Why all the secrecy with the investigations? We need the Feds to get involved immediately, because nobody can be trusted…The Council, the City Manager, the Chief, the BPD, the officers..everyone is tainted.
It is my hope that we all can hear these tapes. Something reminds me of the Nixon years but now it is the council saying your council are not crooks but the tapes may prove differently. This is amazing and somehow I am not surprisd that they would blab and blab on tape just like Nixon did.
Could these tapes be used in a criminal trial. I know Mrs. Gunn has them for her civil suit, but would that jeopardize them in any criminal trial?
It there is any incriminating information on them, I think the tapes should be handed over to the agencies investigating the BPD.
I’m curious just how these tapes can be used if the recordings were done unlawfully? Can you secretly record another person like that? I don’t think so. And if that was unlawful, can the tapes be used even for rebuttal purposes? This is will be interesting, assuming the tapes do indeed exist and contain what is alleged. Of course I may be wrong and such recordings are lawful – but that would sure surprise me. I thought cops could only record on enforcement contacts.
If the late Neil Gunn thought he was making the recording because he was witness to some criminal conduct, I think the tapes would be okay, not positive about that. In a civil court, the laws are not so strict. In the cases involving civil rights violation, maybe the federal courts would use them.
Talk about complicating the whole situation.
Maybe the same way the city attorney can reduce misdemenors to infractions when a person asks for their right to a jury trial. Like magic in Burbank rules vanish and all becomes possible.
What did they say?
When did they say it?
Simple….. Play the TAPE!!!
You know the LAPD can tape record Officers ALL DAY LONG, but they (Officers) CANNOT record the Brass. Now why is that???? Probably because the brass at the LAPD are a bunch of corrupt morons, like Burbank had/has? All these whiny babies above the rank of officer disgust me! They’re just a bunch of self-righteous bloviating idiots. I say record them all……..”TRANCPARENCY” right boys?
What tape? You were fooled again by erroneous bloggings.
Tapes???? where are the tapes?
Like they’re really going to come out at this stage, before discovery, before a suit has even been filed?
Get a grip, you phony city supporter, and try to generate some other bogus issues.