Original Article 6 on AJ police force leave after inquiries Harassment, misconduct queries lead to departures Jim Walsh The Arizona Republic Mar. 5, 2005 12:00 AM APACHE JUNCTION - Six veteran Apache Junction police officers and supervisors targeted by a series of investigations have left the department in the past nine months through retirements and termination agreements. The housecleaning at the 53-officer department ends two years of turmoil including two critical reports by outside investigators who said they found a culture of sexual harassment and workplace abuse. In all, 45 different allegations were investigated. The city is expected to release reports later this month detailing the misconduct that led to the departure of two commanders, three sergeants and one patrol officer, and later one detective. The most recent departures came after two of the men signed termination agreements in January. Former Chief Robert Warner resigned in December 2003 after the first critical report. "Everybody's gone or has entered into an agreement to leave," said Interim Chief Terry McDonald. As the thin blue line cracked, spinoff investigations uncovered misconduct by a seventh officer, another detective, who showed preferential treatment in quashing a child molestation investigation involving a suspect who was the detective's friend, McDonald said. Because the investigation was mishandled, the victims were allowed to live in the same home for two more years after they reported the alleged abuse, McDonald said. Police reopened the case and criminal charges may be filed shortly, he said. In addition, police examined 23 of the same detective's cases and reopened 16 of them after finding evidence of misconduct, he said. He declined to identify the detective. McDonald said evidence of the detective's misconduct emerged when an officer who had been ignored by past supervisors stepped forward and detailed her suspicions. "The large-picture objective is for the employees to know the department is characterized by professionalism and integrity," said City Manager George Hoffman, "and for the public to have confidence in the Police Department." But Steve Primack, an attorney who represents two of the officers, defended the six officers and said they were unfairly targeted. "They were all great officers, in my opinion," Primack said. "They were a service to the community of Apache Junction." A retired Phoenix police lieutenant, McDonald was hired a year ago as a consultant by former interim Chief Steve Campbell, a Phoenix police commander loaned to the city, to investigate suspected misconduct. "The good people in the organization took note that Steve Campbell and Terry McDonald were serious," McDonald said. The departed officers and supervisors: Cmdrs. Dan Scott and Brian Duncan retired voluntarily after a consultant, the Sereno Group Inc., reported evidence of sexual harassment, pornography and other workplace misconduct. They were suspended in June. Sgt. Robert Nye and Officer Richard Boulden signed "retirement agreements" with the city in January. Nye, an officer for 19 years, retires effective Jan. 4, 2006, according to the agreement. He kept his accrued vacation and sick leave, but will be placed on unpaid leave April 18 until his departure. Boulden, a 20-year veteran, retires effective May 1, when his accrued vacation and sick leave runs out. "I think it was a resolution that benefited both parties," said Patricia Gitre, Nye's attorney. But McDonald said, "If you ask if they got a sweet deal, I say no." Sgt. Ron Martin also negotiated a termination agreement and Sgt. Rick Salmon retired. Primack said Nye and Boulden agreed not to sue the city, but that Salmon is considering a lawsuit. Along with Warner, the longtime officers became casualties of more than two years of fallout from investigations spawned by the fatal shooting of Ali Altug, 16, by former Sgt. Robert "Woody" Haywood in April 2001.