Fired Palm Springs Police Lieutenant Fights For Job
A Palm Springs police lieutenant who was fired while being investigated for alleged domestic abuse will appear before a city panel Monday to ask for his job back.
Abraham Tokier, 50, was arrested March 3 on suspicion of spousal abuse against his girlfriend and kidnapping. He was released from custody three days later when prosecutors declined to file charges and sent the case back to Cathedral City police for more investigation.
Tokier was fired from the Palm Springs Police Department April 1, according to Perry Madison, the city’s director of human resources. Tokier requested a hearing in front of the city’s five-member personnel board, and an open meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Monday at City Hall.
“How the process works is any time there is a separation, an employee can request an appeal to the city personnel board,” Madison said. “You can request a hearing on the facts of the separation.”
Tokier, a 20-year veteran of the force, was placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 23, the date of the alleged domestic violence.
District Attorney spokesman John Hall said prosecutors have not yet received an updated report back from Cathedral City police.
Police have described the alleged victim, 37-year-old Dawn Foster of Cathedral City, as the married lieutenant’s girlfriend. When police announced Tokier’s arrest in March, they were in the midst of searching for Foster, who was considered a “critical missing” person.
Police said Tokier allegedly assaulted Foster in the 68800 block of Panorama Road in Cathedral City on Feb. 23. At the time, Foster could not be found.
She was found safe on March 5 at a mobile home owned by Tokier at an RV resort in Lake Havasu, Ariz. Foster reportedly told authorities in Arizona she was surprised anyone had been looking for her, and she was released after being questioned.
Cathedral City police Lt. Chuck Robinson said earlier that “Foster was uncooperative in providing information in the ongoing investigation involving Abraham Tokier for domestic violence.”
