A San Francisco police officer accused of instructing a rookie officer to lie to cover up a suspect's escape was spared from dismissal by the Police Commission, which instead imposed a nine-month suspension stemming from the 2003 incident, The Chronicle has learned.

Lionel Sevilla's case - which had come to symbolize the problems in the department's disciplinary system - had languished for more than five years at the commission before it was resolved in a closed-door hearing that concluded Wednesday.

The 19-year veteran officer must serve the suspension immediately. He will then go on a list of officers whose credibility has been called into question and whose histories must be disclosed to defense attorneys when they testify in court.

Chief George Gascón has complained that sparing officers like Sevilla - who have been accused of lying or misconduct that could discredit them - means the department is stuck with highly paid sworn cops only fit for desk assignments. That's because those officers, Gascón said, would not make reliable witnesses in court and thus can't be counted on to testify.

The department is in the midst of reviewing its rank and file to identify officers with misconduct records and to comply with the Brady vs. Maryland decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that compels prosecutors to turn over to the defense anything that could be used to attack the credibility of witnesses.

Assistant Chief Jeff Godown said the department is left trying to absorb officers who now can't do full police work when it is struggling with dwindling resources.

"It makes it difficult to adequately deploy officers in the field, when I have a lot of officers who get paid the same as a full-duty officer driving in the black and white, but because of the Brady issues, they have to stay in that position where they can never go back in the field. It's very frustrating."

The department has identified as many as 50 officers who have Brady issues.

Sevilla, now 51, is a 19-year veteran who was working as a training officer at Mission Station on Aug. 6, 2003, when he and the rookie officer got a call about a fight inside a business at 17th and Noe streets.

A suspect the officers detained at the scene on a warrant asked to use the restroom, so Sevilla allegedly removed his handcuffs so that he could use a restaurant toilet. He promptly fled out the back.

A subsequent investigation concluded that Sevilla told the rookie officer they could cover up the escape.

Sevilla had faced a litany of charges stemming from the incident, including lying on a police report.

Earlier this year, the commission refused to accept a six-month suspension worked out in a deal Gascón struck with the officer based on the age of the case.

Gascón had since advocated the officer's dismissal based on the severity of the offense.

Sevilla's attorney, Simon Mazzola, has said his client disputes the department's version of events. He did not return calls seeking comment on Thursday.

Commission President Joe Marshall said he understands why people might be frustrated by the process, but he is bound by law not to discuss deliberations before the commission.

"This is an individual case," Marshall said. "These officers have to have their day before the commission. I can't comment on what happens."

He said he understands the implications of keeping officers on the force with credibility problems.