LOS ANGELES : Officer in King Beating Loses Bid to Save Job

A rookie police officer who was relieved of duty for his role in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney G. King lost his latest bid to save his job on Wednesday.

Superior Court Judge Stephen O’Neil granted the city’s request for summary judgment, thereby throwing out Timothy Wind’s request for a hearing before a three-member Police Department Board of Rights.

Wind probably will appeal the ruling, but he also may accept the city’s offer to let him argue his case during a less formal hearing conducted by a solitary police command officer of captain’s rank or higher, said his lawyer, Patrick J. Thistle.

Wind was a rookie still on probation when police stopped King after a freeway chase and beat him as a witness videotaped the incident. Wind was relieved of duty without pay or benefits for using excessive force and for filing a false police report, said Deputy City Atty. David Hotchkiss.

Hotchkiss said Wind technically remains listed as a department employee and will not be formally fired until all of his appeals are exhausted.