Original Article Glendale police chief leaving job Investigation raises questions about behavior, relationships Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor and Brent Whiting The Arizona Republic Apr. 9, 2005 12:00 AM After only six months as Glendale's police chief, Andrew Kirkland resigned Friday, his tenure rocked by accusations of sexual harassment, creation of a hostile work environment and an "inappropriate" relationship with a female police officer. An internal investigation found no evidence to substantiate any of those claims. But investigators concluded that Kirkland's "behavior on duty was unbecoming" and had raised "too many questions about his integrity, truthfulness, honesty and fairness." It added that "the allegations were further tied to inappropriate use of city resources and equipment." City Manager Ed Beasley, who met with Kirkland on Friday morning, could not be reached for comment after the resignation was announced. It was Beasley who had groomed Kirkland for the position. Police Capt. Preston Becker was named acting police chief. Julie Frisoni, a Glendale spokeswoman, said that city officials will meet soon to decide how to find a new chief. Kirkland on Friday denied any wrongdoing, insisting he had not engaged in an improper relationship or favored the female officer to the detriment of her co-workers. "I'm not going to take any shots at the department," he said Friday. "I appreciated the opportunity to come here. I worked hard. And it's time to move on and to try new things." Kirkland submitted his handwritten, one-sentence letter of resignation three weeks after he was suspended with pay. After a lengthy career in Portland, Ore., he was hired as an assistant Glendale police chief in June 2003 and was named chief by Beasley this past September. "I decided to take my services elsewhere," Kirkland said, adding that he was not asked to resign and has no immediate job prospects. Vic Calzaretta, a Portland attorney representing Kirkland, said his client has not ruled out the possibility of a lawsuit against the city. Mayor Elaine Scruggs said that she didn't believe "this resignation will be a negative in any way on the work or on the morale of the men and women of the Glendale Police Department." Becker, a 30-year police veteran, agreed, saying that "morale is good." The accusations against Kirkland that sparked the investigation included gender discrimination regarding promotional opportunities and work assignments and of disparate treatment and favoritism "due to an ongoing close personal relationship" between Kirkland and the female officer, whom he "frequently traveled with . . . to places like Washington, D.C., Florida and Los Angeles," according to the investigative records. Although the report says the accusations were unfounded, it added that witnesses expressed "disappointment over the rumors and the impact this issue has had on the Police Department." Investigators were told that employees were distracted by "the perception of favoritism" and that they felt the chief's relationship with the female officer was inappropriate. Kirkland told investigators that a "friendship exists between himself and (the) female officer and they had become close due to working closely on projects." He said any opportunities she received were based on her job performance. City expense reports and travel records show that Kirkland and the police officer, who is a homeland-security representative for the city, did travel to several conferences. They include at least six trips since October for a National White Collar Crime Center meeting in Washington and an International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Los Angeles. Receipts for the Los Angeles trip show early-morning and late-night room-service charges for two people, including $47.69 for a 6:47 a.m. breakfast and $27.72 for crme brulee and strawberry ice cream at 11:11 p.m. The female officer's name is on the receipts, but they bear Kirkland's signature. There are at least two other trips the two shared on the taxpayers' dime, representing about $1,200 in airfare, but no receipts or documentation were provided regarding where they went or the purpose of the trips. A third trip costing $584 in airfare for Kirkland was also unexplained. While the officer's expenses were approved by her supervisor, many of Kirkland's expenses charged on the city's credit card were never submitted to Beasley for approval, according to city officials. "Quite a bit of it was missing," Frisoni said about Kirkland's receipts. "That is definitely an area of concern." While witnesses were split on the validity of the allegations, investigators found Kirkland's behavior violated the city's human-resources policies and procedures, according to the report. Some employees interviewed during the probe said Kirkland was "a visionary chief and was trying to make needed changes in the department but was experiencing resistance from people who did not want to be held accountable." The report also said that there was evidence that many people were concerned with his communication and management styles, adding that his "stance and demeanor make him unapproachable." Becker said he would keep the department operating smoothly. "I've been asked to do a job," he said. "And that is to make sure services for the residents go uninterrupted and that we continue to do business day by day in the same professional manner we have for years."