Hermosa Beach : Fired Reservist Files Suit

Former police reservist Eric Milse filed a $21-million claim against the city last week, saying he was wrongfully fired.

Milse, 39, said in his claim that his Dec. 24 discharge followed a 30-day suspension and two internal investigations that he called “shams.”

Public Safety Director Steve Wisniewski declined to comment.

Milse, who had been with the Police Department in the part-time postion for 5 1/2 years, said police officials continually promised him full-time employment but five of his six applications for available positions were lost or misplaced.

He also said in his claim that he did the work of full-time police officers but was not paid at the higher wage scale.

In his claim, Milse said, his constitutional rights were violated, his “reputation has been severely damaged” and that he suffered “grave and serious emotional distress and mental anguish” as well as lost income.

Milse was a police officer in Manhattan Beach from 1972 until 1979 and thereafter was a police officer in Redondo Beach from January to October, 1979. Officials would not discuss the circumstances of his leaving those departments.