The Phoenix Police Department has been hit with a series of bombshells in the past few months -- from a sergeant shot and killed, to the arrest of an officer for murder, to the announcement that 4 present and former officers have been indicted. FOX 10 has put together a timeline of important events.
Created by fox10 on Nov 24, 2010
Last updated: 03/18/11 at 05:54 PM
In response to community complaints, the Phoenix Police officers will be wearing headset cameras to record their actions and the suspects' actions.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/phoenix-police-headset-cameras-3-18-2011
The mother of a valley man, shot and killed by a Phoenix Police officer, takes the first step in suing the city for wrongful death.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/justice/officer-involved-shooting-claim-3-18-2011
The City of Phoenix has selected five experts to head up an kidnapping statistics independent review panel.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/investigative/phoenix-kidnapping-stats-review-3-15-2011
FOX 10's John Hook speaks to the newly-appointed Acting Phoenix Police Chief Joseph Yahner about the tough situation he faces, not only because he is close friends with former Police Chief Jack Harris, but also because of the many challenges the force is facing
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/politics/newsmaker/Newsmaker-Sunday-Acting-Phoenix-Police-Chief-Joseph-Yahner-03132011
A Phoenix Police detective and a Phoenix Police sergeant have been accused of driving drunk in separate incidents, both which occurred in the city of Surprise. One of the questions we wanted answered -- was there anyone in their car when arrested? An adult, or maybe even children?
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/investigative/police-chief-responds-duis-3-11-2011
We're seeing the photos of two Phoenix Police officers who were stopped on suspicion of DUI. Detective Cameron Scadden and police Sgt. John Flanagan were busted on separate nights by Surprise police.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/police-officers-dui-03102011
Phoenix Police announced Monday they've arrested one of their own, accused of tampering with evidence and stealing seized drugs. Internal investigators believe the officer, a 12 year veteran, was stealing Oxycotin pills from an evidence room.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/investigative/phoenix-police-officer-tampering-drugs-3-7-2011
Who is Joe Yahner, and how will the department recover from the controversy? We sat down with him one-on-one Friday.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/politics/state_politics/one-on-one-with-acting-chief-joe-yahner-3-4-2011
Former Phoenix Police Sergeant Paul Penzone joined us live to shed some light on the department's kidnapping numbers crisis and the predicament of Public Safety Manager Jack Harris.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/former-phoenix-sergeant-on-crisis-3-3-2011
Who is Acting Chief Joe Yahner? The following is a bio of Joe Yahner, who has been appointed the interim Phoenix Police Chief during Jack Harris's absence.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/who-is-joe-yahner-3-3-2011
Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos announced Friday that Jack Harris has been reassigned, pending review.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/decision-to-be-made-on-harris-job-03032011
The head of the Phoenix Police angrily denied allegations Wednesday that the department exaggerated the number of kidnappings in the city to get more money from the feds.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/immigration/phoenix-police-chief-not-backing-down-on-kidnappings-03022011
We've just learned from two sources that Jack Harris has packed up his office and moved out amid furor over botched kidnapping numbers.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/harris-packs-up-his-office-3-2-2011
Did the Phoenix Police Department inflate kidnapping numbers in order to land millions of dollars in grant money from the federal government? A statement from the Phoenix Police Department says some of the numbers used in applying for the funds were inaccurate.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/phoenix-police-kidnapping-story-response-2-28-2011
A judge has sentenced a former Phoenix police officer for stealing cash from drug dealers during traffic stops.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/justice/former-police-officer-to-be-sentenced-01282011
All the officers that were the subject of a misconduct investigation are being allowed to continue performing off-duty security detail. It turns out, an internal investigation found the allegations against those 24 officers aren't as serious as police first thought.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/investigative/officers-off-duty-work-investigation-1-26-2011
Audio tapes have been released from the 2008 questioning of Sgt. Sean Drenth and former officer George Contreras regarding off-duty work.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/investigative/off-duty-work-audio-tapes-12-16-2010
In light of the shocking allegations at the Phoenix Police Department, some are blaming Chief Jack Harris. Mark Spencer, the president of the police union known as PLEA, has perhaps been the most vocal critic of Harris.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/investigative/chief-jack-harris-vs-plea-12-1-2010
Four Phoenix police officers plead not guilty to charges of fraud Wednesday morning in court. Their arraignment in downtown Phoenix was short, and none of the officers spoke. Three of them are on paid leave from their jobs, and the other is no longer on the force.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/justice/4-phoenix-police-officers-plead-not-guilty-12012010
Emergency responders and police have been asked to provide boot print samples in addition to DNA, in Sgt. Sean Drenth's homicide case. Police say some officers are investigative leads in the case -- but are stopping short of calling them suspects. According to a court order, detectives started collecting DNA samples at 6 a.m.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/drenth-investigation-dna-testing-11-23-2010
FOX 10's John Hook sat down with Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris regarding the recent upheaval within his department. Harris is at the helm during one of the most unpleasant stretches in history.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/interview-jack-harris-11-23-2010
We're getting our first look at the 248-page police report. The report includes interviews with dozens of people, from witnesses to fellow police officers. The accused officer, Richard Chrisman, was not interviewed -- but the one who witnessed the shooting gave investigators a very detailed account of what he saw.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/officer-chrisman-shooting-report-11-22-2010
A Phoenix police officer pleaded not guilty Thursday to a second-degree murder charge for the on-duty shooting death of an unarmed suspect. He was arraigned in Maricopa County Superior Court. He is also charged with aggravated assault and animal cruelty.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/justice/phoenix-police-officer-pleads-not-guilty-in-killing-10212010
A jury has indicted three current and one former member of the Phoenix Police Department on felony theft charges -- and had Sgt. Sean Drenth still lived -- he would be indicted too. According to the indictment, officers in the South Mountain Precinct billed businesses for off-duty work they allegedly did not do.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/officers-indicted-overtime-investigation-11182010
Phoenix Police Officer Richard Chrisman has been charged with murder in the shooting of an unarmed man. But his attorney is calling for a new grand jury hearing, saying if the grand jury had heard the full story, they might not have indicted him.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/justice/grand-jury-hearing-chrisman-11-16-2010
The Phoenix Police Department held a news conference to respond to a local radio host's claim that they are a corrupt agency.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/phoenix-police-department-corruption-claims-11-12-2010
Judge Donald Daughton issued an injunction to prevent the city of Phoenix from terminating 36-year-old Chrisman from the police department.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/officer-chrisman-gets-to-keep-job-11-10-2010
The head of the Phoenix Police Department and his pay are the subject of a lawsuit heard in court Wednesday morning. Harris is "double-dipping" - collecting a pension after retiring as Chief, while at the same time, also taking a full salary for doing the same job with a different title.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/harris-pension-paychecks-court-case-11102010
The city has launched a task force to improve relations in the South Mountain precinct. So far the recommendations are: putting dashboard cameras in patrol cars, mandatory drug tests for officers involved in shootings, requiring officers to interact with people in their patrol areas, and carry business cards with badge # and supervisor's contact info.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/police-relations-recommendations-11-9-2010
Public Safety Manager Jack Harris, also known as the Phoenix Police Chief, issued a statement in response to reports of personnel problems in the South Mountain Precinct.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/jack-harris-statement-11-5-2010
Phoenix Police has confirmed they are looking into whether officers signed up to work off-duty, got paid for it, but never actually did the off-duty work. Beyond that, the department is saying nothing.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/officer-misconduct-investigation-11-5-2010
Sources say that more than 20 Phoenix Police officers are being investigated by the Attorney General's Office after allegations of off-duty misconduct. That investigation involves current and former officers who worked in the South Mountain Precinct.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/phoenix-police-misconduct-allegations-11-4-2010
Two city officials are accused of obstructing a criminal investigation and tampering with a witness. They allegedly contacted the witness in that police murder case -- Officer Sergio Virgillo, who blew the whistle on Officer Richard Chrisman's alleged conduct.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/councilmen-tampering-accusation-10-26-2010
Police officers gathered Monday for the funeral of a Phoenix police sergeant who died in the line of duty. Services for Phoenix police Officer Sean Drenth were Monday at the Christ Church of the Valley in Peoria.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/nw_valley/funeral-services-sgt-sean-drenth-10252010
A vigil was held at 19th Avenue and Jefferson, the scene of his mysterious death. Police still have not made an arrest and many of the details about what happened are still unclear.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/vigil-held-for-sgt-drenth-10-22-2010
A reward up to $10,000 is now being offered for any information leading to an arrest involving Sgt. Drenth's death.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/reward-in-sergeants-death-10-21-2010
A medical examiner's report was inconclusive, and suicide has not been ruled out, but investigators are calling Drenth's death a homicide.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/apx-AZPhoenixOfficer-Killed-10202010
We spoke to a former police officer who's known Drenth since he was a rookie. George Contreras, a former officer in Phoenix, became friends with Drenth while working together and they even played in a band together.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/bandmate-devastated-by-officers-death-10-19-2010
Sergeant Sean Drenth was shot while on duty Monday night near the State Capitol, at 18th Avenue and Jackson.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/phx-pd-killed-on-duty-apx-10192010
We're hearing the 911 call made the day that 29-year-old Daniel Rodriguez was shot and killed at the hands of a Phoenix Police Officer.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/911-call-officer-involved-shooting-10-18-2010
Funeral services were held for 29-year-old Danny Rodriguez, the man who was shot and killed by a Phoenix Police Officer. It was an emotional day as loved ones said their goodbyes -- at the same time -- expressing their anger with law enforcement.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/officer-shooting-victim-funeral-10-15-2010
Officer Chrisman has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge for the on-duty shooting of an unarmed suspect during a violent encounter in which he also shocked the victim with a stun gun and killed his dog.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/ois-prosecutor-case-apx-10142010
Phoenix Police Officer Richard Chrisman is on the Brady List, which names police officers who have 'credibility and integrity issues.' Chrisman was placed on that list for his behavior in a 2005 case -- where he planted drug paraphernalia on a woman.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/accused-officer-credibility-10-14-2010
Members of the Hispanic community say that the officer-involved shooting was racially motivated. Chrisman's girlfriend, Maria Moreno, says there's no way he's a racist.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/chrisman-girlfriend-on-allegations-10-12-2010
Officer Richard Chrisman was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/ois-officer-arrested-10062010
Danny Rodriguez was shot and killed by Phoenix Police Officer Richard Chrisman during a domestic violence call.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/officer-involved-shooting-10-5-2010
Phoenix Police have released their report on an incident in which a Phoenix City Councilman was handcuffed; sparking a discussion about race relations and even leading to some calling for the removal of Police Chief Jack Harris.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/councilman-scuffle-report-6-14-2010
Update Sources