City: Female MPD cop’s complaints not supported by evidence

A Maricopa Police sergeant’s complaints that she was treated differently by her superiors than other mid-ranking officers in the department because she is an African-American female were determined to be unsupported by evidence in an internal inquiry.

Twenty-eight police department personnel were interviewed in an investigation that began in April. The report was completed by Director of Human Resources Karen Shaffer on July 25.

Sgt. Mary Turner filed a complaint against the Maricopa Police Department in April that made a number of allegations that date back several years, including that she was bumped from the detective division because of what she believed was her membership in a union, the City of Maricopa Police Association, and that she had been vocal in the past about being the victim of discrimination because she is black and female.

While her superiors agreed that Turner had brought her concerns to them several times, then Chief Kirk Fitch said she was moved from the detective division for unprofessional behavior. Fitch also indicated some positions have sergeants rotate for training purposes.

The report concluded the preponderance of evidence did not support Turner’s belief she was moved from the detective division based on gender, race or unlawful retaliation.