A former La Paz County Sheriff’s deputy seen punching two men in an off-duty bar fight and another deputy who admitted he “more than likely” made disparaging public comments about co-workers could lose their ability to work as peace officers in Arizona.
On Feb. 17, the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST) Board unanimously voted to initiate proceedings against Weston V. Akalski and Eli Max, who are accused of violating AZPOST rules in unrelated matters. Their peace officer certifications are currently inactive, but the board may take future action including possible suspension and even revocation.
Akalski was hired by La Paz County in January 2018 and graduated from the Western Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy that summer. His employment ended in March 2020 after the Lake Havasu Police Department responded to a report of a group of men fighting outside BJ’s Bar.
According to AZPOST Compliance Specialist David Toporek, Akalski was involved in an off-duty altercation inside the bar which carried over to the parking lot where surveillance video shows Akalski punch a man. When the multi-person melee spills into the roadway he punches another man two times.
Akalski later pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct fighting, a Class 1 misdemeanor for which he was placed on probation. He is slated to complete a one year term of probation in July.
Just weeks before Akalski left the sheriff’s office, Max was recommended for termination related to citizen complaints which alleged he made disparaging comments about deputies assigned to the sheriff’s boating safety division.
Max previously worked as a police officer for the Lake Havasu City Police Department and the Colorado River Indian Tribe before joining the sheriff’s office in November 2016.
Toporek told the board Max, a corporal, became the subject of an internal administrative review in July 2019 when two citizens stated the deputy was inside a local business when he made several negative comments about fellow deputies.
In at least two interviews Max denied any recollection of making such comments, but months later he conceded he “more than likely” made the comments, although he did not recall when or what words he said.
Max was recommended for termination in January 2020 in connection to untruthfulness issues. His final day with the sheriff’s office was Feb. 19, 2020, but a few months Max and the county came to a negotiated resolution in which allegations of untruthfulness were removed from the record of why his employment ended.
AZPOST, however, is not restricted to considering only the official cause of separation.
It could take several months before the compliance cases involving Akalski and Max go before the board again. The men will have a chance to speak about the alleged rules violations with an AZPOST compliance specialist, and they can choose to address the board or have an attorney do so.
