Long Beach : Police Commanders Passed Polygraphs, Lawyers Say

Two Long Beach police commanders, whose complaints about the allegedly vindictive management style of Chief Lawrence Binkley triggered a city investigation, passed lie-detector tests this week, according to lawyers for the commanders.

At the request of city officials, Cmdrs. Alvin Van Otterloo and John Bretza took the polygraph tests Tuesday, answering questions about their allegations that Binkley inspired an atmosphere of fear in the department. The commanders also have complained that Assistant Chief Eugene Brizzolara attempted to influence their testimony during a civil trial over an alleged false arrest in which all three were defendants.

In documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, Brizzolara denied pressuring the men to alter their testimony. “I categorically denied any attempt whatsoever to influence the testimony of either commander,” Brizzolara wrote. “I . . . specifically cautioned each commander not to state or to do anything that would be untrue or could be construed to be perjury.”

Brizzolara also denied allegations that he tried to force the commanders to take stress-related leaves, saying it was the commanders who repeatedly asked him about such leaves. “I again told them that it had to be their own decision as to whether or not they should file such a claim,” Brizzolara said.