From time to time, I've written about Sgt. Bobby Lopez, the fiery San Jose police union leader. Dissatisfied with the current leadership
of the Police Officers' Association, Lopez since has started a rival branch of the Fraternal Order of Police.
The animosity behind that rift was on full display last week in a civil trial brought by retired Lt. Glenn Harper, who has charged his police superiors with racial discrimination.
Among the witnesses was Lopez, who was friendly to Harper. But under questioning by attorneys, Lopez reflected just how upset he was that the department has assigned him to work currently under Lt. George Beattie, the ex-president of the POA.
Saying that his relationship with Beattie was "toxic," Lopez acknowledged that he had notified Chief Chris Moore that he had sought advice from a lawyer about his rights.
When senior deputy city attorney Chris Nielsen asked him whether he contemplated suing the city, Lopez insisted that he was just trying to warn city officials of a potential financial liability and threat to morale. (Lopez says he talked it over with Moore and has gotten a promise to work things out).