Former Tucson police Officer Scott Cushing will be facing proceedings in upcoming months, after the board investigates his July 2016 resignation from the department, after it was revealed he had violated department policies 67 times in a three-year period, according to AZPOST records.
Cushing, a nine-year veteran, was awarded a permanent special duty position at Flowing Wells High School in 2012. Records show it was there that Cushing reportedly arrived late and left early during some shifts in 2015.
Tucson Police Department's internal investigation revealed that on 27 occasions, Cushing was paid both by the city of Tucson and Flowing Wells High school for working the same hours. Detectives also learned that Cushing submitted 41 compensation forms for payment with forged signatures, to make it appear the payments were authorized, AZPOST records show.
"Cushing committed a willful act of forgery for the purpose of obtaining monetary compensation," AZPOST investigators wrote in the case summary. "By committing the forgery, he was also able to conceal his actions for a period of three years."
Cushing told investigators he didn't have a "good excuse" for committing forgery, but rather it was out of "negligence or laziness" on his part, according to the AZPOST documents.
The case was reviewed by the Pima County Attorney's Office for criminal prosecution, but the agency didn't feel the evidence was sufficient to prove criminal intent. The deputy city attorney also reviewed the case for proof of criminal intent, of which he found none, but said it was "clear" that Cushing was double-paid, AZPOST documents show.
Cushing will receive a formal letter from the board and have the option of a hearing with an administrative law judge, Sierra said.
