POLICE UNION LEADERS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy and Peter Hartlaub Daily News Staff Writers

The LAPD is investigating misconduct complaints against four leaders of the police officers union, including Sgt. Dennis Zine, who will be relieved of duty pending a hearing on sexual misconduct allegations, officials said Wednesday.

Police union officials accused Chief Bernard C. Parks of retaliating against its directors as part of the escalating war between Los Angeles Police Department brass and the union. Department officials denied the charge.

Zine, a West Hills resident who serves as a Police Protective League director and member of the elected Charter Reform Commission, faces 13 counts of misconduct, including allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances toward Officer Denise Ward, 36.

The LAPD also is investigating allegations that league President Dave Hepburn made an inappropriate remark to a resident, that union director Cliff Ruff made an off-color joke about the chief at a retirement dinner, and that Ruff and union director Gary Fullerton committed perjury in a civil deposition, league officials said.

Only Zine is facing disciplinary action at this time.

Police Protective League attorney Hank Hernandez accused Parks of retaliation for criticism by union directors of his operation of the department and said the investigations are an effort to undermine the union leadership.

``I'm facing five different complaints against my directors,'' Hernandez said. ``I don't think that's a coincidence.''

The union has filed an unfair-labor-practices complaint against the department, alleging that Zine is being treated more harshly because of his status in the union and because he has criticized Parks.

``We have read the investigation and have concluded the only reason Dennis Zine is being ordered to a Board of Rights is retaliation for his criticism of the chief,'' Hernandez said.

Hernandez said Parks has taken the unusual step of briefing Mayor Richard Riordan on the Zine case. The union lawyer charged that the investigation of Zine also was retaliation because the sergeant would not support Riordan's position on charter reform.

LAPD: No retaliation

Cmdr. Dave Kalish, an LAPD spokesman, said he could not comment on the facts of the cases, but he denied any political motivation in all of them.

``This is absolutely not an issue of retaliation,'' Kalish said. ``This is simply a matter of investigating allegations of gross misconduct.''

Mayoral spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez also denied that Riordan played a role in the action against Zine. She said she was not aware of Parks briefing the mayor.

Hepburn said it is very unusual for the department to be investigating complaints against four union leaders at once.

``Any time that occurs, the potential for some kind of retaliation is in the back of our minds,'' he said.

Hepburn said he was questioned by LAPD investigators about a remark he made to an acquaintance while off duty. He declined to detail the remark but said it was an opinion not related to the LAPD.

``The allegation was that the remark was inappropriate for a police officer,'' Hepburn said. ``I don't think it was improper. It's ridiculous that the department is even investigating it.''

Ruff denied that he and Fullerton committed perjury in a deposition in a civil suit brought by a police officer against the union, and says his joke about Parks at a retirement roast in Calabasas is protected free speech.

One supporter of Ruff described his joke at a retirement party as tasteless, comparing the chief in a disparaging way to a bodily affliction.

``The chief is harassing the union,'' Ruff said.

Fullerton did not return calls for comment.

The only disciplinary action out of the investigations so far was an order by Parks that Zine, a 23-year veteran of the department, be relieved of duty pending a Board of Rights hearing. The order has not yet been served on Zine, who was in South Dakota on vacation Wednesday and did not return calls for comment.

Female officer filed suit

Ward sued Zine and the city in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 23, seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She claims she lost salary and suffered mental pain and anguish from the alleged harassment.

Ward, who began her career as an LAPD officer in 1995, said the problems started in June 1997, after Zine invited her to attend a Police Protective League conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Ward claims Zine told her the league would pay for everything, then made unwanted sexual advances night after night until she was forced to abandon the room they were staying in and bunk with an officer from Long Beach.

Ward claims the problems started on the first night of the trip, when Zine allegedly lit candles, turned off the lights and waited for her to come out of the bathroom, telling her he thought it would be romantic.

Three nights later, the lawsuit states, Zine climbed into her bed, ignored her demand that he leave and proceeded to rub his genitals up and down her body.

Ward said Zine told her she would have a separate room before the trip. After she moved to other quarters, Ward claims, Zine put a dozen condoms and a jar of his urine in her luggage, according to the suit.

Since the trip ended, Ward contends that Zine told other officers that she ``used him'' for a free trip. Ward claims she has been harassed as recently as May, when someone called her a ``psycho chick'' because Zine said she abused him.

Advances misconstrued

Hernandez said Zine believes he is being treated unfairly for romantic advances made after he and Ward had begun dating.

In addition, Hernandez said two female officers have admitted putting condoms and a container with a liquid in Ward's suitcase as a prank. He said department investigators do not appear to believe those officers and are alleging Zine is responsible.

The Police Protective League's board of directors will meet in the next few weeks to discuss Zine's status, but Hepburn said he does not expect the charges to affect his role as a director.

``The case will be heard before a Board of Rights,'' he said. ``Hopefully, Dennis will be found not guilty and he will be able to come back to work.''

Erwin Chemerinsky, chairman of the elected Charter Reform Commission, said it is premature to talk about Zine resigning from the panel.

``This is a very serious allegation, but at this stage it is just an allegation,'' he said. ``There has been no finding of wrongdoing.''

Hepburn said he does not know the facts of the case against Zine but worries that Zine's criticism of Parks could affect his treatment.

``I am concerned that because the union has been so effective in criticizing the chief in recent months - and Dennis has been one of the most outspoken critics - that this could be, in some sense, retaliation for things Dennis has said,'' Hepburn said.

By sending the matter to a Board of Rights, the department is signaling that Zine could face serious discipline ranging from a 22-day suspension to termination.

The LAPD has been criticized in the past for being soft on sexual harassment complaints. Parks has made it clear in recent months that he will not tolerate such misconduct.

Zine, who is divorced, ran unsuccessfully in 1993 for the Los Angeles City Council in a west San Fernando Valley district and is believed to be interested in running again someday. He won election last year to the post of charter reform commissioner from that same 3rd Council District.