Earle Robitaille

For the second time in two weeks, Councilman Earle Robitaille on Monday angrily lashed out at a resident who criticized him during a City Council meeting. At this week's meeting, resident Larry Smith had indirectly chastised Robitaille for a comment he made at the Jan. 21 council meeting. As Smith was leaving the podium, Robitaille snapped, "Up yours and the horse you rode in on, jerk."

City Councilman Earle Robitaille, a retired chief of police, called one resident a "village idiot" and another resident a "fool" after the residents mentioned him as an example of the city's recent practice of pension "spiking." Robitaille's outburst prompted Mayor Grace Winchell to recess the City Council meeting for five minutes Monday night for a cooling-off period. Robitaille is among 16 retired city workers the state has said received unusually high, or spiked, pensions.

Citing the tough economic times, City Councilman Earle Robitaille is advocating that City Council members pay for all their own travel expenses when on city business. Robitaille's proposal, which last week was sent to a council subcommittee for study, comes as three council members and a top city administrator are to fly to Washington this week to attend the National League of Cities Conference.

Citing the tough economic times, City Councilman Earle Robitaille is advocating that City Council members pay for all their own travel expenses when on city business. Robitaille's proposal, which last week was sent to a council subcommittee for study, comes as three council members and a top city administrator are to fly to Washington this week to attend the National League of Cities Conference.

As a resident of Huntington Beach, I was quite agitated to read about Councilman (Earle) Robitaille's crudeness during past council meetings ("Robitaille Responds Angrily to Critic," Feb. 5). The councilman has it wrong. He isn't embarrassing the council; Robitaille is the embarrassment! Councilman Robitaille, when your term comes to an end, I expect the voters of Huntington Beach will send you out "on the horse you rode in on." GENE MICCO, Huntington Beach

Police Chief Earle Robitaille is urging residents to use his department's free Operation Identification program to mark household valuables instead of another method recommended by the International Assn. of Chiefs of Police.

Four men and a juvenile who claim they were tortured by Huntington Beach police with electronic stun guns have filed a $25-million federal civil rights lawsuit against the city, Police Chief Earle Robitaille and 23 police officers. Each alleges in the lawsuit, filed Tuesday at the U.S. District Court branch office in Santa Ana, that they suffered "severe injury, both physically and emotionally" as a result of violations of their due process and equal protection rights under the U.S.

The Santa Monica law firm of Strumwasser & Woocher was selected this week by the City Council to help defend the city against a lawsuit challenging its campaign reform ordinance. In closed-session action, Mayor Linda Moulton Patterson and council members Grace Winchell and Ralph Bauer voted to hire the firm. Councilman Victor Leipzig cast the opposing vote, and Councilmen David Sullivan and Jim Silva abstained. Councilman Earle Robitaille was absent. Deputy City Atty.

Profiles of five Orange County police chiefs who stepped down in 1987: Donald Saviers, 51, Westminster Police Chief since 1985, took early retirement effective Jan. 29, citing offer from city that gives him two extra years' salary on top of retirement. Plans "to go fishing" and otherwise take it easy. Jimmie D. Kennedy, 53, is taking early retirement, effective Thursday, as chief in Anaheim after 30 years on the force, the last five as chief.

Huntington Beach searched nationwide for a new police chief, but the city ended coming back home to make its selection. Police Capt. Grover L. (Bill) Payne, 52, will replace Chief Earle Robitaille, authorities announced Wednesday. The City Council is expected to officially approve Payne's appointment during its regular Monday night meeting. Robitaille announced recently that he will retire April 17 after 24 years with the department.