HUNTINGTON BEACH – An investigation into community complaints of Huntington Beach police officers setting off illegal fireworks over a neighborhood east of Central Park in the early morning hours of July 5 appears to be at the center of a dispute between the city’s police chief and the police officers union, the Register has learned.

In recent months, tensions have increased between Chief Robert Handy and the Huntington Beach Police Officers Association, culminating in the union’s Aug. 15 announcement of a 92 percent vote of no-confidence in Handy. Police are in the midst of negotiating with the city on a new contract.

At the time of the vote, Handy attributed some of the friction to “how I’ve dealt with misconduct.”

The city, in an Aug. 25 letter in support of Handy, said police were conducting “an internal affairs investigation of a citizen’s complaint of officer misconduct that occurred outside a union facility.”

The letter did not elaborate on the alleged misconduct, but it led to community speculation about the investigation.

On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Councilman Erik Peterson addressed anonymous reports about the investigation. “I can confirm it’s about community-driven complaints of officers lighting off illegal fireworks in front of their (club),” he said.

Peterson said several citizen complaints had been lodged involving multiple officers.

Dave Humphreys, president of the police union, was unavailable for comment Wednesday, Sept. 14.

Handy declined Wednesday to comment, saying any information about police misconduct investigations is confidential. Under the Police Department’s policy, the findings and discipline, if any, will also be confidential.

However, residents in the neighborhood said they were awakened between 2 and 3 a.m. July 5 by large fireworks explosions over their homes.

Police logs requested by The Orange County Register show a police call for service at Gothard Street and Prodan Drive, adjacent to the police officers’ facility and the neighborhood.

Resident Bill Cuppy said his family and pets were awakened by loud bangs overhead in the early morning. He said he did not know where the fireworks came from.

“They were some big Disneyland-grade fireworks,” he said. “Obviously, they were not the kind that you find at a roadside stand.”

Resident Gary Bosiljevac was also awakened and said the sounds were much louder than firecrackers.

“We heard it for about three or four minutes and thought the police would go over and take care of it,” he said. “It went on for at least another half hour.”

The city confines the discharge of legal fireworks on July 4 to between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. The discharge of illegal fireworks is a misdemeanor under state law.

It is unknown whether the alleged fireworks were seized or purchased.

The city’s letter supporting Handy said union leadership “unprofessionally and profanely” demanded the chief drop the investigation into the misconduct complaint.

But in an earlier statement about investigations of its officers, the union wrote: “There is no discord over being held to account for our actions including to be disciplined, terminated, or prosecuted.”

The release quotes Humphreys saying, ” We take our position of public trust seriously and only ask that we are treated fairly and our constitutional rights and human dignity protected.”

Handy and union leadership have been at odds for much of his 3 1/2-year tenure as police chief since he arrived from San Bernardino. After the no confidence vote, the union asked that Handy step down or be removed.

The union contends Handy created a hostile work environment, causing officers to leave or retire early, denied safety equipment, such as rifle silencers, failed to embrace labor relations and was responsible for poor morale, recruitment and retention, lowered hiring standards and low staffing levels.

The city and union have been negotiating since April for the contract that ends Sept. 30. When the last contract was approved in June of 2016, officers had gone 8 1/2 months without a contract.

Handy has said in the past that the public and city expect to hold officers accountable.

“We’ll do that all day long,” he said. “We refuse to have officers engaging in misconduct.”

The City Council, which is responsible for hiring, firing and reviewing the chief’s performance, appears strongly on his side. Four council members sent letters to the Police Department in support of Handy and others have also expressed support.

Last year, Handy was successful in overcoming union opposition in outfitting the Police Department with body cameras and phones equipped with video. He also has been a proponent of a number of community-policing initiatives, including a bilingual Citizens’ Academy and community workshops.

He said he maintains respect and admiration for the department’s officers.

“In spite of our internal challenges, I am confident members of our department will continue the great work they do in the community,” he said in an earlier interview with the Register.

Mayor Barbara Delgleize also remained steadfast in her support of Handy, saying, “Unless something else is revealed, I am not going to waver.”