A past president of the Burbank police union has been placed on administrative leave, and could face termination pending the completion of an investigation.
Sgt. Mike Parrinello, who once served as the president of the Burbank Police Officers’ Assn., was placed on leave last week pending the completion of an investigation, Police Chief Scott LaChasse said Friday.
It is unclear at this point what Parrinello is being investigated for, and LaChasse declined to discuss the matter.
City Spokesman Drew Sugars said the city could not comment on personnel issues.
Parrinello is the second president of the union to be placed on administrative leave. The other, former Officer Mark Armendariz, the most recent union president, was fired in July 2013 after being placed on leave.
In May, Armendariz filed a lawsuit against the city. Armendariz alleges he was retaliated against for not supporting the current department leadership, among other reasons.
Parrinello’s leave comes as a police officer who was fired amid allegations of misconduct during the 2007 Porto’s Bakery robbery and subsequent investigation has rejoined the force. Sgt. Chris Canales was among 10 officers fired in 2010 and after going through the city appeal process to get his job back, returned to work on June 9.
The police department was in the news again in May when former Deputy Police Chief William Taylor won a years-long court battle with thecity of Burbank. The Court of Appeal of the State of California denied the city’s attempt to overturn a jury verdict that awarded Taylor nearly $1.3 million. The city could be paying out more than $2.6 million in the case, including costs and attorney fees.
