N4T Investigator: The police officer of the Pima Community College police officer remains on leave in the criminal investigation | Local news

Tucson, Arizona (KVOA) -The Nachrichten 4 Tucson investigators learn more about months of criminal and administrative examination of a high-ranking official from the Pima Community College Police Department.

We do not reveal the identity of the officials because they were not charged with a crime.

The N4T investigators first reported on the mysterious case in October last year after a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security in Arizona confirmed that DPS had found evidence that the PCC representative had violated state laws.

The DPS -E email from October 2 by spokesman Bart Graves is as follows:

“I can confirm that the police authority of the Pima County Community College District (PCCCDPD) the Arizona Department of Public Safety applied for a criminal investigation with a PCCCDPD employee. During the examination, violations of state laws were discovered by the PCCCDPD assistant. In the case of the examination, the considerations should be directed to the AZAG or PCCCDPD.

News 4 Tucsons Chief Investigative Reporter Chorus Nylander turned to the General Prosecutor's office, but as a standard practice, it does not comment on active investigations.

Nylander has submitted record inquiries from DPS, the AG and PCC office, but none was fulfilled.

In October we submitted an application for the civil servant's complete personnel files to look for previous employment questions. The request was not completed.

Last month, the N4T investigators received an explanation of PCCS Vice Chancellor for External Relations, Phil Burdick:

“In response to a complaint about a police officer of the Pima Community College and after an internal investigation, the college forwarded the matter to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) in order to carry out an independent criminal investigation. As a result of the first examination of the DPS examination, the Attorney General from Arizona decided not to pursue the drive.

We again contacted the general prosecutor's office to determine whether it has actually decided not to pursue any criminal charges. A spokesman told us on Friday: “No final decision was made. I cannot speak to the comments of the college.”

On Thursday we followed again with Phil Burdick to see the status of the investigation and the status of the request of our protocol. Burdick gave the following statement:

“Thank you for your e -mail. Since this matter is still checked, the college has no further statement than the one we sent you on January 15, 2025.

As you may know, the law of Arizona, known as the Peace Commissioner Bill of Rights (ARS 38-1101 to 38-1120), offers law enforcement officers specific rights in relation to investigations and disciplination processes. These rights make personnel records in connection with the examination of a law enforcement officer confidential until the employer has hired the examination or conclusion of the appeal procedure in the event of disciplination.

The employee remains in paid administrative leave. ”

Our recording request was much wider than just looking for information about the open examinations.

We asked for this:

“Dear Pima Community College,

According to the law on public records in Arizona § 39.101 ff. I ask for the opportunity to inspect or maintain copies of public records [suspects name redacted]including all disciplinary documents.

If there are fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me if the costs over 50 US dollars exceed. However, I would also like to apply for a waiver of all fees, since the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and contributes significantly to the understanding of the public for the background of a durated civil servant. This information is not searched for commercial purposes.

Please answer this request in a reasonable period of time. If access to the records I requested takes longer, please contact me with information about when I expect copies or the possibility to inspect the requested records.

If you refuse one or all of this request, please indicate any specific liberation that you justify for the refusal to publish the information and to inform me about the complaint procedures that are available to me in accordance with the law.

Thank you for thinking about my request. “

The News 4 Tucson investigators have also learned that the ORO Valley police authority was contacted by PCC in order to carry out an administrative examination of the same employee. Unlike a criminal investigation, OVPD was commissioned to find violations of PCC guidelines and procedures.

The OVPD spokesman Darren Wright confirmed that they had completed the examination, but referred us to PCC to publish all results. PCC has not published us any of the results.

Wright said that such a request from another agency was not unusual.

“Police departments across the country, it is a fairly usual practice. If there are questions or concerns, you will ask an external agency to carry out the investigation of transparency for clarity and more thorough and fairer examination,” said Wright.

Some PCC students affected the investigation and the lack of publicly published information.

“I think as a student we deserve to have some transparency to know what they are being examined for,” said Tina Ambrose. “It's very worrying, I don't feel so sure.”

“I have the feeling that we should know exactly what is going on, especially if he is a police officer for a school we go to, it doesn't have to be very descriptive, but at least a good understanding of what is going on,” said Angelina Datillo.

You will keep the N4T investigators up to date if we learn more about the examination.

If you have a story, you want the N4T investigators to examine an email to InvuLungs@kvoa.com or call our tip line at 520-955-4444.