Revocation of two SVPD officers' state certifications on this month's AZ P.O.S.T. agenda
SVPD Officer Roy accused of misconduct with 14yr-old girl, dishonesty
ex-SVPD Officer Arnason was drunk in squad car, caused collision
SIERRA VISTA - The state board with sole authority to certify police officers will meet
later this month to determine if one current and one former Sierra Vista police officer
retain their certification to work in Arizona.
Records released today by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST)
Board confirm that final action will be taken in the cases of Alexander Roy and Joseph
Arnason during the Board’s September 21 meeting.
Roy’s certification has been under review by AZPOST since April due to his conduct with the teen-aged daughter of a friend, which was the subject of criminal and internal
investigations last year.
AZPOST compliance specialist Lori Tallerday noted in her final Findings of Fact report to the Board that from March 2014 to January 2015, Roy had “an inappropriate
relationship with a 14 year old female” which included visiting the girl while on-duty when she was home alone.
During the investigations, Roy admitted he did not notify dispatchers of his whereabouts while with the girl or that he gave her a ride in his patrol car. He also acknowledged leaving his assigned patrol area and texting with the girl.
Tallerday noted that although criminal charges were not pursued, Roy “showed deception to all four questions” asked of him about sexual contact with the minor, during a June 2015 polygraph examination.
Roy was fired October 12, 2015 for demonstrating a pattern of poor judgment, including
his conduct with the girl as well as five prior violations of department policy. He
appealed the termination. The City’s contracted administrative hearing officer, retired judge James Riley, ruled that termination was too severe a punishment, that the officer should be reinstated and given an 80 hour unpaid suspension instead.
Roy was back on patrol duty when the AZPOST board voted in April to review his
certification. He is currently reassigned to the department’s dispatch center until the
case is resolved.
The second Sierra Vista case involves Joseph Arnason, who was fired on December 19, 2014 for driving while intoxicated. He had been an officer with the department since September 2012.
Arnason, who was in uniform and driving to work in his patrol car, caused a three car accident when he rear-ended another vehicle. According to AZPOST documents, he had a .11% blood alcohol concentration.
On March 28, 2016 judge Timothy Dickerson of the Sierra Vista Justice Court accepted Arnason’s guilty plea to a DUI charge. In accordance with the terms of a plea agreement
Arnason was sentenced to no more than ten days in jail. Justice of the Peace [pro tem Leslie Sansone ultimately ordered Arnason's confinement at county jail for one day.
Tallerday, the AZPOST compliance specialist, noted in her final Findings of Fact report that officers involved in similar cases had their certification revoked. She also advised the Board that Arnason received a certified letter on July 7 advising him of AZPOST’s proceedings but he did not request an administration hearing.
AZPOST board meetings are held in Phoenix and are open to the public. Cochise
County sheriff Mark Dannels is one of the 13 board members.
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Photos: Alexander Roy, SVPD [upper left], Joseph Arnason, CCSO mughsot [middle right], Arnason collision, contributed by CCR reader [lower right]
Contact reporter Terri Jo Neff at 520-508-3660 and cjw_media@yahoo.com
