SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego police chief and fire chief were called to testify by the defense as character witnesses for a councilman accused of conspiracy.

Chief of Police William Lansdowne came to San Diego in 2003, after the FBI investigation that led to the trial of Council members Michael Zucchet and Ralph Inzunza, council aide David Cowan, and Las Vegas lobbyist Lance Malone.

However, Lansdowne has had about 20 contacts with Zucchet since then and said "he's been very forthright and truthful."

"Everything I've done with Mr. Zucchet, personal and professional, he's been above board, committed, works well with the community," Lansdome said.

Fire Chief Jeff Bowman is also fairly new to the city and was asked his assessment of Zucchet's character.

"Honesty was the issue and I told them he's always been honest with me in all our dealings," Bowman said.

The "most striking thing" about Zucchet, Bowman said, was that "discussions we had privately were always voiced the same publicly."

Inzunza's chief of staff praised her employer.

"He's an honest council member -- an honest human being," Ana Molina said.

Molina was also questioned about a council committee meeting in March 2003, when Malone supposedly delivered $6,000 in cash to the councilmen as part of a scheme to buy their votes to repeal the city's no touch law for strip clubs.

Molina testified that a review of videotape never showed Inzunza or Zucchet absent from the meeting during the time Malone was reported by the FBI to be at city hall.

Although council member Charles Lewis was gone for several minutes.

Lewis died last year before he could be brought to trial.