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Phoenix police sergeant on leave over ICE protest incident is suing to keep his job

 The new Phoenix police headquarters in downtown Phoenix on Friday, March 27, 2026.
Chelsey Heath
/
KJZZ
The new Phoenix police headquarters in downtown Phoenix on Friday, March 27, 2026.

A Phoenix police sergeant currently on paid leave for his behavior at a student protest in Chandler in January is suing the police chief to keep from being fired.

The Police Department is accused of bypassing its own investigative review process.

In court documents, Sgt. Dusten Mullen alleges his rights to free speech and due process were trampled by the department he works for.

Mullen is asking a federal judge to order a full investigative review of his off-duty interaction with student protesters before a disciplinary decision is made.

Mullen was put on paid leave weeks ago by Phoenix police Chief Matt Giordano, who is a defendant in the case. So is Councilwoman Anna Hernandez. She’s accused of violating city code and the charter.

The sides are due in court Monday morning.

Read the court documents:

More law enforcement news

Matthew Casey has won Public Media Journalists Association and Edward R. Murrow awards since he joined KJZZ as a senior field correspondent in 2015.