Original Article Arrested development Troubles in the Glendale Police Department are undermining the city's vitality Apr. 14, 2005 12:00 AM These are difficult days for the Glendale Police Department. In the span of a week, a police chief on the job for just six months has resigned amid allegations of favoritism and gender discrimination, and a detective has been fired for botching nearly 250 domestic-violence cases. On top of that, Mayor Elaine Scruggs worries that her city's relationship with other Valley law enforcement agencies was "ripped apart over the past year" because Glendale was not seen as "a team player . . . certainly not in homeland security." Scruggs notes that Glendale needs to rebuild the "close cooperation and collaborative working relationship" it once had with other police departments. The city has 351 sworn police officers. Glendale has a great deal going for it, particularly on the economic front with Cardinals Stadium under construction and the Westgate City Center - a collection of entertainment venues, restaurants, lofts and retail specialty shops - planned around the new Glendale Arena. But police matters have short-circuited the positive vibes surrounding economic development in the state's fourth-largest city. The incidents raise troubling questions on several fronts that City Manager Ed Beasley, the City Council and the acting police chief need to address to rebuild confidence in the department. Among them: Is there a culture in the Police Department that leads to turning a blind eye to favoritism and discrimination? Though specific accusations against former Police Chief Andrew Kirkland of discrimination and creation of a hostile work environment were not substantiated, former Chief David Dobrotka resigned three years ago after a sexual-harassment complaint was lodged. Beasley says any discrimination will be addressed by policies and procedures as well as training and by examples set by the command staff. Is there a lack of accountability or oversight in the Police Department and at City Hall? For example, Kirkland and a female police officer took several out-of-town trips to conferences together. On at least two of the trips, no documentation or receipts were provided as to where they went or the purpose. Some of Kirkland's expenses on a city credit card were never submitted to Beasley for approval. An audit is under way, appropriately so. Was there sufficient due diligence in the hiring of Kirkland? Before his hiring as assistant police chief, Glendale officials were aware that Kirkland's name had surfaced at least twice during internal police investigations in Portland. He was cleared on both, but should more attention have been paid to the nature of the investigations? When Kirkland was hired as police chief, were the two weeks that Glendale allocated for a national search enough time for such an important position? Glendale's acting police chief, Preston Becker, is the fourth leader in three years. He comes from inside the department and gets high marks. The revolving door in Glendale's Police Department cannot help but give an anxious public pause. Job 1 for the new chief is to ensure public safety and begin restoring confidence in the department.