2007 Peskowitz News: "I believe he needs to be restrained from within rifle range"

Police personnel at odds over conduct
Posted: 2007 Jan 12 - 01:14
http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=19987
By Sarah Stover
Staff writer

NORTH PALM BEACH - The problem traveled with him.

A former North Palm Beach police officer, who says he is being harassed by a former employee, recently resigned his position as chief of the Snohomish, Wash., police force because of the harassment.

Gordon Wiborg Jr. resigned on Dec. 28 as a result of pending legal matters with the officer he supervised in North Palm Beach.

"I have enjoyed the two years working for the City of Snohomish. Unfortunately, the litigation issues I am involved in from North Palm Beach have become so distracting that I believe my energies and attention are better placed elsewhere," Chief Wiborg wrote in his resignation letter.

"It is with sadness that I accept Gordon Wiborg's resignation. His dedication as police chief was extraordinary, and I have great appreciation for the commitment he demonstrated to our community," said Snohomish city manager Larry Bauman in a press release.

Mr. Bauman refused to comment further when he was contacted.

Prior to resigning, Mr. Wiborg requested a restraining order against an officer he supervised when he worked as the administrative/special services captain for the North Palm Beach Police Department. A Snohomish County judge granted the temporary restraining order on Dec. 19.

During his time as operations commander for the Village, from 2001-04, Mr. Wiborg supervised Ira Peskowitz, who is now an officer with Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office in West Palm Beach. Mr. Wiborg claims that after Officer Peskowitz resigned from the Village Police Department in 2004 due to mental health issues, he began harassing his former supervisor, said a statement from Mr. Wiborg in his petition for a restraining order, submitted on Dec. 18.

The harassment has only been verbal, but Officer Peskowitz had stated his intent to fly to Snohomish, Wash., to make harassing statements at the town's council meeting on Dec. 19, the restraining order request said.

"I believe he also intends to cause physical harm to me. Because of Mr. Peskowitz's police and firearms training, I believe he needs to be restrained from within rifle range (1,500 feet) of me," Mr. Wiborg wrote in the petition for the order.

According to court documents, the temporary order mandated a 500-foot distance. A hearing was set for Jan. 2, in which Officer Peskowitz had the right to defend himself and prove the petition was unnecessary. But Officer Peskowitz did not show up, since he had not been served with the restraining order, said a Snohomish clerk, who did not want to be named.

At press time, the clerk said Officer Peskowitz had been served with the restraining order, and a hearing is scheduled for Jan. 16. If Officer Peskowitz does not show at that time, the order will go into effect for a year, court documents said.

Mr. Peskowitz's attorney, Isidro Garcia, was not sure the Washington court could go through with the order since, to his knowledge, his client had not been served.

"Ira does not intend to file anything because it's completely fraudulent claims from Mr. Wiborg," said Mr. Garcia.

Villager manager Mark Bates did not know the men, so he could not comment, he said.

Current Village police Chief Jimmy Knight also did not know Mr. Wiborg or Officer Peskowitz since they were gone from the department before he became chief, he said.

However, he was made aware there is pending litigation, he said.

Mr. Peskowitz has filed lawsuits against both Mr. Wiborg and the Village.

"Essentially what happened is, Mr. Peskowitz made complaints about his colleagues making false driving under the influence arrests and also made some complaints against Mr. Wiborg focusing on sexual harassment," said Mr. Garcia.

Village officials turned the tables, Mr. Garcia said, and instead of investigating Mr. Peskowitz's complaints, they charged him with making false complaints. Then they would not let him work and interfered with his attempt to work at the Sheriff's Office, he said.

Mr. Peskowitz's lawsuit is pending in Palm Beach Countyu circuit court. It is on the trial docket to be called, said Mr. Garcia.

Mr. Wiborg could not be reached for comment.

Stover@hometownnewsol.com

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