DATE: Saturday, October 11, 1997            TAG: 9710110452

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   58 lines

BEACH SUSPENDS 14 OFFICERS UNPRECEDENTED ACTION IS RESULT OF MAN'S SHOOTING DEATH IN CHASE

Police Chief Charles R. Wall ordered the suspensions of 14 officers Friday for violating departmental policies during the March 25 car chase and shooting that resulted in the death of 28-year-old Bruce V. Quagliato. The punishment is the most wide-reaching disciplinary action in Police Department history.

The suspensions without pay range from eight hours to 45 days. Officers involved said most of the suspensions were one or two days. All except two were a week or less.

The two highest-ranking officers involved - both sergeants - received the harshest penalties, 30 days and 45 days. All the officers contacted by The Virginian-Pilot said they would appeal. Wall said the suspensions would not take effect until the officers had exhausted the appeals process. He declined to identify the officers.

The sanctions resulted from a six-month internal investigation that included scrutiny by a firearms review board and the officers' commanders.

The suspensions were for a variety of alleged departmental violations, such as having too many cars in a pursuit, counting the number of bullets fired, and leaving cover during a shooting.

Several veteran officers said they never have heard of suspensions being given for such reasons. Those veterans said officers have received medals for actions taken after leaving cover and nearly every police pursuit in the city has included more than two units, which is the most the department's rules allow.

Wall said he never had been involved in a disciplinary process that affected so many officers. Nearly all the officers have spotless records with the department. Some have won medals and commendations.

``Let me start by saying it is a tragedy anytime someone dies,'' said Wall, speaking in a news conference in City Council chambers. ``As you are aware, all officers involved have been cleared of criminal wrongdoing by the commonwealth's attorney. All of the investigations that have been conducted conclude that it was Mr. Quagliato's actions that resulted in this tragedy.''

The officers can appeal to City Manager James K. Spore or the city's Personnel Board. The officers contacted Friday said they would go to the Personnel Board. That panel has the authority to affirm, reduce or overturn the chief's decision. If the suspensions are upheld, the punishments will be noted in the officers' personnel jackets for the duration of their careers.

While on suspension, the officers will lose their guns, badges and all police powers. They wouldn't be allowed to work at any part-time security jobs that require police authority.

An attorney representing most of the officers blamed inadequate training for the incident's outcome. Wall dismissed that, saying the police department's training standards are far above what the state requires. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Richard L. Dunston/The Virginian-Pilot

Virginia Beach Police Chief Charles R. Wall announces the

suspensions... KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOOTING

INVESTIGATION SUSPENSION

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