Four Fullerton officers reportedly disciplined after help call

FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) Four police officers allegedly humiliated a woman who they thought was unconscious after arriving at her home to investigate a possible suicide attempt.

Police Chief Patrick E. McKinley said the incident was being investigated by internal affairs officers and he wouldn't comment.

But in an internal memorandum obtained by the Los Angeles Times, McKinley said two of the officers were disciplined for conduct unbecoming an officer. Two others who apparently witnessed the incident were disciplined for failing to take action, the paper reported Friday.

The names of the officers and the punishment meted out weren't disclosed.

According to the chief's account, the four officers responded to a radio call of suspicious circumstances, possibly a suicide, in a trailer home. When they arrived, the woman was lying on her bed, apparently unconscious. They knew the woman from prior calls, the chief wrote.

At first, the officers tried to wake her by calling her name, shaking her and moving the bed.

Then, one of the officers lowered himself inches from her and passed gas loudly, saying, ``This ought to wake her up,'' McKinley wrote.

Another officer climbed over her on all fours and, without touching her, mimicked a cat licking milk, he wrote.

It turned out, the chief wrote, that the woman was conscious.

A department spokesman reached late Thursday said the complaint was generated from within and swift action was taken.

``Once we were made aware of it, we started an investigation immediately,'' said Sgt. Ron Gillett. ``I feel comfortable everything we did from an administrative standpoint was done correctly.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)