An investigation of the city of Maricopa’s police department found that officers there mishandled 40 cases involving serious crimes, ranging from sexual assault to sexual conduct with minors.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation into city cases between 2012 and 2022, following a discovery that some cases were “incompletely investigated, insufficiently documented, or closed without appropriate supervisory review.”
The audit “revealed repeated and systemic failures in case management and supervision.”
Of the 40 cases evaluated, 14 remain open, including five that have been submitted to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office.
Of the seven officers handling cases that were investigated, five are still with the department. Two received disciplinary suspensions.
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