Whistleblower Blues

Nolan was referring to Hunter, his former supervisor in Anaheim's gang unit. Hunter has since been promoted to a lieutenant with Internal Affairs—the very police agency charged with investigating police corruption. Randall Gaston, the internal-affairs chief who supervised the investigation that cleared Hunter and other officers of wrongdoing, was promoted to police chief before his death last year. Bustamante, the officer who allegedly beat up a handcuffed Alvarado, has been promoted to sergeant. Other members of the gang unit implicated in Nolan's successful whistleblower lawsuit are still with the department.

Meanwhile, since leaving the police force, Nolan says he has suffered from depression and recurring anxiety.

"Steve has some legitimate fears about what will happen if he goes back to work," said Steve Pingle, Nolan's attorney, who successfully argued Nolan's whistleblower suit. "It's not a really good idea for him to go back." On the other hand, Pingle says, Nolan can hardly afford to walk away from his retirement package. "If the court does not see fit to order that Steve Nolan be granted a disability retirement," Pingle said, "then he will report for duty at the Anaheim PD the day this case is concluded."