Burbank police chief quits amid probe

BURBANK, Calif., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- The chief of the Burbank, Calif., Police Department, which is the subject of an FBI investigation, said Monday he is stepping down.

Tim Stehr, who was named chief in 2007, said he would retire but did not give a reason for his decision, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"It has been my absolute privilege to serve as Chief in the City of Burbank," Stehr said in statement. "Our department is facing challenging times."

The FBI disclosed in September it is investigating 12 former and current Burbank Police Department officers. A federal grand jury subpoena for department records referred to information regarding "use of force, defensive tactics, Tasers, pepper spray, or the rules and ramifications pertaining to the use of excessive force or a violation of civil/constitutional rights," the Times reported in October.

Investigators told the police department to turn over records relating to departmental internal affairs investigations into use-of-force complaints against the officers dating to 2003.

Officers have filed at least seven suits against the Burbank Police Department, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation, and wrongful demotions or terminations. City officials say Burbank had already begun to investigate the department before the lawsuits were filed, the newspaper said.

Sgt. Neil Thomas Gunn, 50, a 22-year veteran of the Burbank Police Department named in the FBI investigation shot himself to death in Burbank Oct. 29.