Panel Finds No Grounds For Palm Springs Lieutenant’s Termination

A personnel panel voted 3-to-0 on Monday that the termination of Abraham Tokier from the Palm Springs Police Department was incorrect, and recommended to the city manager he be reinstated.

The move came after two rounds of appeals hearings, where Tokier, 50, fought to get his job back.

City of Palm Springs attorney Barbara Raileanu responded to the board’s decision, “It’s a disappointment to the department. They believed strongly in the decision to terminate and thought it was the appropriate course. Insubordination is serious and it can’t be accepted in a police department.”

“Abe is grateful that the personnel board was attentive and patient during the hearing process, and that they carefully reviewed the evidence presented,” attorney Kasey Castillo said. “He is also thankful to those individuals that provided testimony on his behalf to the board. Abe is hopeful that the city manager also agrees that the best place for him is back to work, and he is looking forward to that day, and again working alongside Chief(Alberto) Franz.”

A high-profile member of the Palm Springs Police Department for 20 years, Tokier had been accused of assaulting and kidnapping his girlfriend in February when her family reported her missing to local police.

Police had said Tokier allegedly assaulted Foster in the 68800 block of Panorama Road in Cathedral City on Feb. 23.

VIDEO: Abraham Tokier Testifies

Dawn Foster was found days later safe inside a recreational vehicle owned by Tokier that was parked at the Islander RV Resort in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., according to Cathedral City police.

At the time, Tokier was placed on paid administrative leave while Cathedral City police sorted out the events leading up to her disappearance from his home in that city.

Riverside County District Attorney’s Office spokesman John Hall said prosecutors have received an updated report back from Cathedral City police, and they have not determined whether charges will be filed against Tokier.

In a hearing designed to allow terminated Palm Springs city employees to appeal their firing, Capt. Dennis Graham told a panel on May 23 that Tokier was supposed to stay within one hour of the police station under the terms of his leave. Graham said he had actually traveled 6 hours away with Foster to Lake Havasu in clear violation.

They also asked Tokier to make phone calls at noon to check in with his managers. Graham said Tokier did call on some occasions, but not at the specified times. On several occasions, he said, Tokier did not check in.

Graham also testified that Tokier did not bring in his police-issued equipment when they asked him to, nor did he check it in with the appropriate person.

As a result, the Palm Springs Police Department terminated him for insubordination, he said.

Tokier’s attorney alleged the investigation was a “scam,” and was full of inaccurate and misinformation.

He said the “orders” that Graham alluded to were not delivered as orders but talked about in various conversations.

His attorney also claimed there were tape-recorded telephone conversations between Graham and Tokier that happened without Tokier’s knowledge. He said Graham’s raw notes recordings were discarded, which according to state law must be saved.

On Monday, the review panel found his termination to be incorrect and suggested he be reinstated.

They also suggested he be suspended without pay for six months and get his job back as a sergeant for a probationary period.

The final decision is up to the Palm Springs city manager David Ready, who can either accept the recommendations, or he can make his own to the Palm Springs City Council.