Phoenix Police Officer Accused Of Threatening Mayor Retires

PHOENIX — A police officer accused of making violent threats against the Phoenix mayor retired from the job before he could be disciplined, authorities said.

Officer Steve Poulos retired just before he was due to meet with Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams for a pre-termination meeting, according to a statement from the Phoenix Police Department.

An investigation into Poulos' comments about Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego confirmed that he violated department policy, a spokesperson for the department said. Retiring means the department has no way to discipline him. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office decided in January not to pursue criminal charges against Poulos.

Findings from the criminal investigation conducted by the Tempe Police Department and an internal investigation by the Professional Standards Bureau will be given to the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board. The group determines whether someone is certified to work as a police officer in Arizona.

A Phoenix police sergeant said he heard Poulos say, "If the mayor defunds the police, I'm going to shoot her," at an October squad briefing, according to a police report obtained by 12 News.

Five other officers were also in the briefing room at the Black Mountain precinct, according to the report. They said Poulos threatened to shoot up Gallego's house. The sergeant reported the statements after he said Poulos doubled down and called his threat "a promise." Other officers told Tempe police investigators they weren't sure he intended to act on his words.

Gallego has been mayor since March 2019 and won reelection on Nov. 3. She voted with the Phoenix City Council in June to increase the Phoenix Police Department budget.

Williams said in a statement that Polous' comments did not reflect her department's standards.

“The statements made by Mr. Poulos during a squad meeting do not reflect the high standards expected of members of Phoenix Police Department," she said. "I have thousands of officers doing amazing work on behalf of the people of Phoenix each day. They act with professionalism and respect. When they don’t, they will be held accountable. I expect more, and the people of this great city deserve more.”