Details emerge about firing of Goodyear chief
Goodyear held a hearing Monday to allow the former police chief abruptly fired without explanation last year to appeal his termination.
Former Chief Jerry Geier’s integrity and honesty were the focus of the daylong hearing, with most of the testimony involving two separate incidents.
This was the first time the allegations against Geier, who joined the department in 2012, were publicly disclosed. Prior to Monday, city officials had offered no explanation for his October suspension and December termination other than to state that it was due to Geier “violating administrative policies.”
Geier’s attorney, Steve Serbalik, said this was all caused by a “coup” by the union with the goal of discrediting the chief and getting him fired.
Monday’s hearing will be followed by a second day of testimony next week.
A spokeswoman for Goodyear said the hearing official will offer a recommendation to the city manager within 10 working days of the conclusion of the hearing. City Manager Julie Arendall will then have 15 working days to determine whether Geier’s termination should be upheld or overturned.
Reporting officer misbehavior
Investigator Donald Conrad said Geier encouraged Deputy Chief Justin Hughes and other department executives not to report a criminal allegation against then-Sgt. Alison Braughton to outside agencies.
Glendale Police Department investigated Braughton for allegedly hitting a utility pole and driving away while off duty. She was put on leave pending an investigation and later resigned under the assumption that she would likely be fired if she returned to work.
Geier allegedly told his subordinates not to report Braughton to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to be included on the “Brady List” – a list of police officers who have knowingly lied in an official capacity – and Arizona POST, which could revoke her police certification.
Additionally, Conrad said Geier later gave a false narrative about the incident to investigators.
Conrad said in the hearing that he believes Geir did this to avoid a discrimination lawsuit from Braughton that could prevent him from getting other chief jobs in the future.
Geier previously told another department member that he believed he didn’t get a chief job in Florida that he applied for due to a previous gender discrimination lawsuit that was settled.
“My many years of law enforcement left me wellinformed about an accusation of dishonesty leveled at a police officer,” Conrad said. “I know the devastating impact an establishment of dishonesty can have on an officer’s career. I didn’t say I thought he was dishonest blindly.”
Serbalik countered that Geier thought Glendale police should turn over the completed investigation to the County Attorney’s Office and that AZ POST was properly notified after Geier realized he misunderstood the form.
Serbalik also said Geier was advised by the city’s human resources and legal departments.
Goodyear police in Phoenix jurisdiction
The second incident occurred in April 2019 when the FBI agent wife of Goodyear Deputy Chief Justin Hughes reportedly went missing while meeting a confidential informant.
Hughes was unable to contact his wife. Goodyear’s Neighborhood Enforcement Team was deployed to Phoenix to find her. She was ultimately found safe.
Geier wasn’t physically present when the team went to Phoenix to see if they could find Hughes’ wife. The city claims Geier was aware of what was happening. Geier maintained that he did not authorize them to go and the case should have been led by Phoenix police or the FBI with Goodyear police only assisting.
Conrad said phone records and witness interviews prove Geier knew what was going on and that he lied to investigators.
Other claims were unsubstained
Other claims the union made weren’t sustained, including one that alleged Geier engaged in “reverse discrimination” by unjustly promoting females.
Conrad said he didn’t find any evidence to support this.
During his opening statement, Serbalik argued that Geier was the victim of a “coup” within the department. Serbalik said Hughes – who was also the subject of his own investigation – conspired with others to take out Geier in hopes of becoming the chief himself.
He noted that many of the incriminating claims against Geier were made only by Hughes.
Hughes was also placed on administrative leave in October. He is currently on personal leave. The results of the internal investigation focusing on him will not be released until he returns to duty.