The year ended with new leaders for the city’s police and fire departments after retirements, hiring, resignations and promotions.
Chief Brady Leffler, who has led Maricopa’s fire and medical division since 2013, retired in March. He was hired to overhaul the department.
Brad Pittassi, the department’s deputy fire chief, was appointed interim chief and was promoted to chief in mid-September.
As Operations Assistant Chief, Pitassi’s responsibilities included oversight of the department’s day-to-day operations, risk and hazard emergency preparedness, personnel, long-term operational strategic planning, and budget.
new chief of security
A week before Pitasi was appointed fire chief, the city hired a new deputy mayor and chief security officer as part of a reorganization of its public safety administration.
31-year-old Micah Gaudet was brought in to oversee police, fire and emergency management. We will ensure a safe and secure community,” the city said in a release.
The youngest mayor in the state, he led Miami, Arizona, home to about 1,500 residents east of Phoenix, through the massive Telegraph fires and historic post-fire flooding in June 2021. .
Gaudet has degrees in Economics and Public Management and is also qualified in Local Government Finance. A U.S. Army veteran and a decorated veteran in combat areas, he joined his two tours in Afghanistan.
surprise exit
Gorde’s appointment follows the sudden resignation of Police Chief James Hughes.
A 36-year law enforcement veteran, Hughes led the MPD for just 21 months. His last day on the job was September 15, a week after the city announced its hiring of Gode.
Hughes joined the division in 2012 as the commander overseeing operations. He replaced Steve as his chief in January 2021, just six weeks after Stahl announced his unexpected retirement.
In an interview with InMaricopa just before his final day at MPD, Hughes admitted that the city’s growth had changed its complexion and policing nuances. I said it became clear. However, he added that his law enforcement career “probably isn’t over.”
In December, the city announced that it had hired a new police chief following a nationwide survey.
Commander Mark Goodman of the Pasadena, California Police Department will take office on January 23rd. He has been with the Los Angeles suburban police department since his 1994, piling up his promotions.
The police shooting was supported
In other news about police personnel, the dismissal of Maricopa’s officers was upheld after an appeals hearing in July.
Officer Craig Curry, a 2013-14 MPD veteran and K-9 handler, was dismissed by the department earlier this year. After two days of his testimony, including Curry, the hearing officer upheld the Bureau’s decision. His mayor, Rick Horst, then confirmed the Inquisitor’s decision.
According to the city, Curry was the subject of an internal investigation of 19 public complaints or incidents between September 2013 and November 2021. Two vehicle crashes, including disciplinary action for backing a police car into a parked fire truck. and three internal investigations.
One of these internal investigations revolved around an incident in June 2020, in which K-9’s partner, 9-year-old Dutch Shepherd Ike, drove a sealed police car for 103 minutes in a 108-degree day. was left to die. The animal was humanely euthanized after suffering heat stroke.
Bureau investigators concluded that Curry violated three code of conduct policies in the incident, and he was given 20 hours of unpaid disciplinary action.
The case was also investigated by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and reviewed by the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, which declined to pursue criminal charges against Curry.
