The June meeting of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards & Training (AZPOST) board was a busy one, with four peace officers voluntarily relinquishing their certification, one having his certification revoked, nine suspensions being signed off on, and three new applicants receiving waivers in order to get certified.
Tyler Aguirre Barrena (Yuma Police Department), Gary M. Kaplan (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office), Christian G. Phillips (Arizona Department of Public Safety), and Scott A. Stallman (Phoenix Police Department) signed consent agreements to formally relinquish their peace office certifications. Each of the agreements done “without admitting to any misconduct” were formally accepted during the AZPOST board meeting on June 16 in Phoenix.
While those four consented to the relinquishments in order to resolve rules complaints, the AZPOST board unanimously voted to revoke the peace officer certification of former DPS trooper Rene Algara.
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In other action, the board accepted a consent agreement from Michael J. Blute, whose peace officer certification is with DPS, for a 12-month suspension of Blute’s certification from March 12, 2020 through March 12, 2021.
A 12-month suspension was also approved from July 17, 2020 through July 17, 2021 for Richard D. Gear, whose certification is also with DPS. Another 12 month suspension was agreed to by Earlonzo D. Hogue. The suspension is effective from April 26, 2021 through April 26, 2022 at which time Hogue’s certification on record under the Chandler Police Department will lapse.
Robert K. Martin, who was certified with the Gilbert Police Department, consented to a 12-month suspension of his certification from Jan. 22, 2020 through Jan. 22, 2021, while Anthony R. Flores with the Tucson Police Department now has a one-year suspended certification through Nov. 30, 2021 after the board unanimously voted to take the action.
The board suspended another certification for 12 months, this one belonging to Jordan M. Redd listed under the Tempe Police Department. The period of suspension is March 17, 2021 to March 17, 2022. And the final 12-month suspension of the meeting went to Juan V. Espinoza, listed under the Fort Mojave Tribal Police Department. Espinoza’s certification suspension runs March 17, 2021 to March 17, 2022.
Charles B. Scott, whose certification is listed with the Gila River Police Department, agreed to 6-month suspension of his certification from Nov. 20, 2020 through May 20, 2021, while a Mohave County Sheriff’s deputy, Paul M. Karsky, is shown as having consented to a suspended certification from April 21, 2021 through Nov. 18, 2021.
At its recent meeting, the AZPOST board voted to “initiate proceedings” against six currently certified peace officers. Each will be formally notified of the rules complaint against them and then have a chance to address the board.
The six are: Mario Palacios and Mary E. Turner of the Maricopa Police Department, Brian T. Thatcher and Paul M. Vogler of the Phoenix Police Department, Vinicius Ribeirodacruz – Tucson Police Department, and Roberto Serna – Pima Community College Department of Public Safety.
Meanwhile, Chase Kirby of the Fredonia Marshal’s Office, Robert Sines of the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, and Jaclyn Vallor of the Arizona Department of Public Safety now qualify to obtain their AZPOST certification after the board unanimously approved waivers for the three.