The Voice of OC story of retired Santa Ana Police Department executive Inspector Hank Couisine receiving a payout of more than a year’s worth of vacation, sick, holiday, and comp-time pay upon his retirement caught my eye this morning. My first reaction was; “I know the guy!” Couisine was the idiot who, two years ago, tried to escort me out of the Police Department building for attempting to attend the beginning of a Santa Ana City Council Closed Session meeting, a violation of the Brown Act. My second reaction was; “What the F—?”
According to the Voice of OC report by Adam Elmahrek, Couisine retired from the Santa Ana Police Department on March 13th and cashed out more than 3,000 hours of paid time, about 1,000 hours over the limit for vacation time accrual according to the City Attorney’s office. Couisine was an executive in the department and was known to be close with former Chief Paul Walters. Walters recently negotiated a more than $700,000 departure package. According to the report, the City has not revealed who authorized the payout, but Council members are hopping mad and demanding answers.
Eventually all of the accumulated sewage from the years of shady management under the Pulido regime will be flushed from the city system. The sad part is there is no telling how much it will ultimately cost.
Another day in the life of the Banana-Peel Republic of Santa Ana.
Is that hair on that dude, or a layer of asphalt?
And you won’t read a word of this on Pedroza’s blog because he is a paid shill for Pulido and Walters. Both of them corrupt to the core
From my point of view, the only issue in question is was the Inspector’s request to exceed the number of maximum hours of vacation accrual approved by the Police Chief and City Manager. What many people are forgetting is, the vacation hours were legitimate and did not cost the taxpayer any more money than had the employee used them over the years, taken an extended leave just before retirement or as it so happened was paid for them in a lump sum. The payout of leave time does not count as part of the employees single highest year for retirement purposes, so it cannot be considered a retirement spike. The Santa Ana City Council should do it’s home work before commenting to the media about such incidents. It makes them appear ignorant of what is hapening in their City and understanding City Policies and Procedures.
While on duty as a SAPD officer, Couisine was shot in the face, doing permanent damage to his eye, face and scalp. So Steve, you a$$hole maybe you can up with another amuzing remark.