Police probe of Little League incident clears McDonald

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, March 7, 2001 | 11:38 a.m.

Metro Police found no criminal activity by City Councilman Michael McDonald or his staff relating to allegations of intimidation by a Little League coach but did discover internal problems within City Hall.

In a Metro report released Tuesday, Sgt. Larry Burns noted that city employees and council members often bypass the city manager and deputy city managers, thus giving personal direction to the various departments. Even the city directors have been bypassed on occasion, according to the report.

Although there was no criminal intent, Burns noted the matter would be better resolved internally.

The report also addressed the atmosphere on the 10th floor of city hall. It said that Burns often heard from city staff regarding a sense of hostility.

"It is apparent that there has occasionally prevailed an attitude of intolerance that borders on the brink of hostility," according to a memo written by Burns, dated Feb. 23. "... I have heard it all too frequently by those wishing to remain anonymous. I believe it is that atmosphere that has led to words like 'intimidation,' 'threats' or 'coercion' being offered in an open forum."

David Riggleman, the city's communication director, said this morning that, as a result of the investigation, City Manager Virginia Valentine is working to better define the permitting process for teams using city fields when more than one department is involved. She also will better define the city's chain of command, he said.

"Obviously, this was a breakdown in communication," Riggleman said. "Not everyone was in the loop."

Metro began an investigation in February after Little League Coach Lloyd Schiller told the City Council he was intimidated into signing a contract with the city's Parks and Recreation Department, which did not allow the league to play fall baseball in 2001 at Rainbow Family Park. Schiller believed the document, or the instructions for him to sign it, had come from McDonald or his staff.

Metro detectives interviewed Leroy Pringle, who works in the Parks and Recreation Department, and John Black, manager of Parks and Open Spaces.

Black, according to the report, said he received a call from McDonald's chief liaison, Rick Henry, after a meeting in July involving Schiller and representatives from City Council members Lynette Boggs McDonald and Larry Brown's ward. The ward representatives told police they had a cordial meeting with Schiller, who agreed the fields would remain closed after fall baseball 2000 to help preserve the greens.

Henry told Black that he and McDonald were upset they were not called to the meeting, despite the fact Rainbow Park is in McDonald's ward.

Black, a city employee for 16 years, told Henry it was an oversight and told Schiller plans for baseball were on hold. Black believes the decision that no fall baseball will be played at Rainbow Park came from McDonald's office.

Black told police he was not threatened by Henry nor did he make threats toward Schiller.

Pringle, a six-year city employee, told police he drafted the contract to get something in writing from Schiller in the event someone asked why the fields would be closed for the fall. Pringle said this type of letter had never been used and has not been given to other youth leagues that play in the city. Police reported no one directed Pringle to draft the document.

Pringle said although he asked Schiller to sign the document, he would have given him the permits for the upcoming seasons even if the agreement was not signed.