Security supervisor Thomas F. Henaghan had four major confrontations with guards in less than three years, according to grievances filed by the guards, but has not been disciplined for any of the alleged incidents.

The revelations about Henaghan's record come as University administrators choose sides in a growing debate about harassment charges made by guards against their supervisors.

In each case guards charged that Henaghan, who has been employed as a supervisor by the Harvard Police Department since August 1989, provoked the incident with offensive statements or challenges to "step outside."

Henaghan was hired as a supervisor just six months after he became a guard in early 1989,prompting charges of favoritism from some guards.Such a quick promotion is highly unusual, saidlongtime department employees.

Last week, Dean of Students Archie C. Epps IIIcalled tensions in the unit a serious problem forthe College. And yesterday President Neil L.Rudenstine said he would ask the general counseloffice to reexamine the complaints.

University officials--including Police ChiefPaul E. Johnson, General Counsel Daniel Steiner'54 and acting General Counsel Frank J.Connors--have said complaints against securitysupervisors, including those made againstHenaghan, were investigated and the supervisors,"cleared.

Henaghan refused to comment yesterday. "We'vebeen told to refer all questions about specificincidents to Chief Johnson," he said.

The first confrontation occurred on September29, 1989, one month after Henaghan became asupervisor.

According to a handwritten statement bysecurity guard George Perry, Henaghan summonedPerry to the Mather House supervisor's office at7:10 p.m. and then angrily asked him to "stepoutside."

Once outside, Henaghan accused Perry, who wasthen new to the guard unit, of spreading rumorsabout him. Perry said he told Henaghan he had notspread rumors about anyone and that he only knewabout a dozen guards in the entire University.

"My supervisor then stated that if he heard anymore about this he would take me outside, and heand I would go at it man to man," Perry wrote.

Perry said he took his grievance to the lateDirector of Human Resources Vivienne Rubeski. Noaction against Henaghan or Perry was taken, Perryand department sources said. But sources saidBrian D. Sinclair '62, assistant director forfinance and administration in the policedepartment, said at a hearing on Perry's complaintthat Henaghan "needed some retraining."

In an interview yesterday, Perry said he stoodby his written statement and he stood by hiswritten statement and that Henaghan's behavior onthe job had not improved. He also said he hadother incidents with Henaghan, but refused todiscuss them.

On May 24, 1990, Yard guard Peter Skillmanentered the security supervisors' office at 29Garden St. to pick up his radio and inquire aboutwhether he could have a new sweater.

According to a June 15 statement by guard RalphLambert, who said he witnessed the incidentsupervisor Dino Bavaro told Skillman he could nothave a sweater yet. When Skillman complained thathe was cold, Henaghan, who was wearing a newsweater, asked the guard if he was "some kind offucking idiot."

After the incident, Chief Johnson issued astatement to all guards saying that "personalinsults meant to induce anger cannot betolerated."