Irvine Valley College's top cops placed on administrative leave

I have it on very good authority that Owen Kreza, Irvine Valley College's Chief of Police, and his deputy, Dennis Duncan, have been placed on administrative leave and that, earlier today, their computers were seized by the (South Orange County Community College) district.

That the district seized Kreza and Duncan's computers is peculiar. According to established procedure, the college's own IT personnel would handle any movement or processing of college computer equipment.

I also have it on good authority that a cop from Saddleback College, Deputy Chief of Police James Pyle, is now serving as "Interim" (or possibly only "acting") IVC Chief.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND: Kreza served with the Irvine Police Department from the early 70s until his retirement from that organization in 1995.

After his service with IPD, Kreza had a colorful second career. According to the Irvine World News,

Since retirement, Kreza has worked at Concordia University and UC Irvine, and operated his own executive protection agency where he provided security to country music stars, business moguls and the family of the Sultan of Brunei.

See College police chief named. (6/7/01)

Kreza was named IVC Police Chief in 2001.

Kreza's private firm is Owen Kreza Professional Services of Foothill Ranch.

MS. HAMMEL'S RETALIATION COMPLAINT: In April of 2006, a formal "retaliation complaint" was lodged against Kreza by IVC classified employee Suzanne Hammel. (See April board agenda/closed session.) In July, Ms. Hammel appealed the board's April decision (see July board agenda/closed session), but, after the July closed session trustee meeting, no action concerning the complaint or the board's decision concerning it was reported.

It is not known (not by me, anyway) whether the Hammel matter had any bearing on today's action.

I'm told that Robert King, SOCCCD's Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, was involved, and perhaps directed, today's action.

ONCE AGAIN, MATHUR'S LEGACY: Naturally, Kreza was a Raghu Mathur hire. Mathur served as President of IVC from 1997 to early 2002. During Mathur's tenure as President, he experienced two votes of "no confidence" by college faculty, in part owing to some of Mathur's administrative and managerial hires.

One hire, Rod Poindexter, Dean of Health Science, PE, & Athletics, was fired after a series of embarrassing episodes, including one reported fracas and alleged threatening behavior. (See Irvine Valley A.D. taken off job.)

Another Mathur favorite, Humanities and Languages/Fine Arts dean Howard Gensler, stepped down not long after reports revealed that Gensler, along with Mathur, pursued a $900 million private Hilton Hotel/Theater complex at IVC (it was dubbed the "Howard Hilton" by denizens of the college). Evidently, Gensler and Mathur had failed to consult the city regarding these unusual--and, to some, absurd--plans.

Both Poindexter and Gensler were despised by their faculty. But the low estimations of Poindexter and Gensler by faculty had no bearing on either dean's exit from administration. (Gensler is now a tenured Econ instructor at Saddleback College who is pursuing a suit against the district.)

Despite these and other embarassing episodes--Mathur also sued the district when his attempt to sue Dissent editor Roy Bauer backfired, leaving him with whopping legal costs--in 2002, the SOCCCD board of trustees appointed Mathur district Chancellor. As Chancellor, Mathur soon experienced a 93.5% vote of no confidence by faculty. If anything, Mathur is even less popular with faculty today.

The conservative SOCCCD board has recently granted Mathur raises and perks. He now makes roughly a quarter million dollars a year, including a generous car rental allowance. (Mathur drives a Mercedes.)