The Civil Service Commission has voted to uphold the dismissal of a Tucson police detective who was fired for failing to properly investigate three cases that were later declined for prosecution, documents show.
In an Oct. 5 meeting, the panel decided that former Detective Rudy Rodriguez should have known his actions could lead to disciplinary actions, according to the meeting minutes, which were obtained through a public-records request.
In April 2016, a sergeant discovered three case summaries filed by Rodriguez relating to investigations that he said were closed after the Pima County Attorneyβs Office declined to prosecute, the documents show.
When the sergeant contacted the county attorney handling the case, the attorney said that the cases hadnβt been formally declined because he hadnβt yet reviewed them.
On further inspection, the sergeant learned another of the cases also hadnβt been declined because requests had been made for follow-up investigations, according to the documents.
A police internal investigation into the incidents made it apparent the three cases hadnβt been investigated βproperly or thoroughlyβ by Rodriguez.
In two of the cases, Rodriguez never conducted an in-person interview with the suspects and didnβt file all of the necessary evidence with the report, the documents show.
In one of the cases, involving a potential case of child abuse, Rodriguez never asked the suspect how the child was injured and told the man βhe believed the case would be declined and the information from the interview would be for documentation purposes only.β
Rodriguez told investigators he filed closing supplements without all of the information because he was βoverzealousβ in trying to close cases, because of βpressure to try and clear up case managementβ on top of clearing old cases and investigating new deaths, the documents show.
Rodriguez was fired Aug. 1 for violating general orders, on-duty conduct standards, general responsibilities and untruthfulness.
The Civil Service Commission panel heard testimony from five Tucson police employees, including Chief Chris Magnus, and looked at multiple pieces of evidence.
The board eventually voted 2-1 to reject Rodriguezβs appeal and uphold the firing. The passing motion included a provision that the charge made of dishonesty made against him wasnβt supported.
The Arizona Peace Officers Standard and Training Board, the state agency that oversees peace officer certification, received notice of Rodriguezβs termination and is reviewing the case, said spokeswoman Sandy Sierra.
His case will be heard in upcoming months to decide if the board wants to pursue action to sanction or revoke his state certification for police work.
