Al Suckerman was not ‘drummed out’ of MPD volunteer unit

I just read your article about how the MPD Volunteer of the Year Al Suckerman was let go from the department due to a dispute — blowing the whistle on Sgt. James Hudspeth. Until reading this skewed story about his dismissal, I considered Mr. Suckerman a personal friend. However, I cannot sit by and let his accusations go unchallenged.

Al and I joined the department as volunteers about the same time in 2008. Since then he certainly earned the award he received in 2009 as “Volunteer of the Year”. Al put in an enormous amount of time volunteering as a citizen on patrol. I must question his claim that he co-founded the Volunteers in Police Service Program as it has never really gotten off the ground and I believe he was the only member. Mr. Suckerman was also a member of my Victim Assistance Program (VAP), right up until he pointed out Sgt. Hudspeth’s illegal and unprofessional actions.

The question is, was he drummed out of the volunteer program for whistle blowing?

I know that is simply not the case. He immediately requested that I not schedule him for any more VAP shifts and never again attended our required monthly meetings. This started back in February. His actions had not been in question by any of our other 14 VAP Volunteers; he put himself under a self- imposed exile and developed a poor and destructive attitude. Whenever I would question him as to why, I would get a wink and grin, like there was something secretive going on and I should have known about it.

I have been with the MPD volunteer program for over two years, and I believe I have some feel for the pulse of the department. I started the Victim Assistance Program on May 30, 2009. I also volunteer four hours a day, five days a week, assisting in the records department. I read daily reports of police activity and I’m constantly involved with officers in the field, either at the station or on victim assist calls.

What I get from this activity is extreme respect for our police force.  I am not going to deny that a few officers may have given Al a difficult time that he did not deserve. But he was not intimidated to the point that he had to chose, as he did, to move to Scottsdale and participate on his terms and time schedule.

From the time he moved away, he understandably  was not a reliable volunteer. Chief Fitch sent him a letter lauding and thanking him for all his previous good work yet pointing out his lack of cooperation, reminding him that he no longer was meeting the minimum requirements of the volunteer program and that he regretfully had no choice but to drop him from the program.

In my opinion, Al Suckerman has always demonstrated that he  is a “wannabe Cop” who wears his feelings on his sleeve and has made his own bed. Nobody drove him away. I do not agree with Al’s attempt  to embarrass the Maricopa Police Department. I am a retired officer of a fortune 100 company and I have seen this hundreds of times with disgruntled employees.
Although I may disagree with some actions by the Maricopa Police Command Force, I am extremely proud of my association with them and their officers in the field. They are completely committed  to the safety of the Citizens of Maricopa.

There is one final comment I would like to make. I am amazed at the remarks by your readers on the subject of the MPD. It is obvious to me and others I have discussed this with that they do not like any police organization and are willing to disparage them on any subject or situation and only want to know one side of an issue: the side they like. It appears that, when it is about the police department,  it’s always the same people hiding behind phony names and making outrageous remarks and judgments  with no merit whatsoever!

Jerry Good is a MPD volunteer.

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