LOS ANGELES : Officer Who Left Post During Riots Faces Firing

A Police Department disciplinary board has recommended that an officer be fired for leaving his post during emergency mobilization at the time of the riots.

Frank Kryshak, 28, who has been on the police force for two years, was found to have left his post and gone to a nightclub with three other officers May 5. He worked out of the Newton Division. The internal Board of Rights made the recommendation Monday. The punishment can be reduced by Chief Willie L. Williams.

“The majority board opinion was they wanted to send a message,” said Officer William Scheideker, who represented Kryshak at the hearing. Although the rioting, which began April 29, had subsided by May 5, the officers were still under a state of alert. Scheideker said Kryshak and the other officers “were just bored” and drove to the Denim & Diamonds nightclub in Santa Monica to play pool.

The other officers still face Board of Rights hearings.