Multiple personnel resign, retire after investigation unearths misconduct in Mesa Park Ranger unit

PHOENIX — Multiple personnel have resigned or retired after an investigation into the city of Mesa’s Park Ranger unit determined that three rangers violated city policies.

On Monday, the city released an eight-month external investigation that found that the park rangers violated multiple city workplace policies. They include misuse of authority, noncompliance with state and municipal park ranger limitations, hostile or inappropriate workplace conduct, inadequate documentation and repeated dismissal of city directives.

Following the findings, the city started the process to dismiss two of the rangers, who had been on leave since April, but they resigned a week prior to their dismissal hearing. The third ranger was set to be terminated in April due to a Mesa Police Department investigation, but resigned beforehand.

“Our community’s trust matter, and the results of this investigation are unacceptable, and do not reflect the values or expectations of the City of Mesa,” Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman said in the Monday announcement. “Our priority now is rebuilding that trust and ensuring our Park Ranger Program meets the high standard our community expects.”

Details on investigation into Mesa Park Ranger unit

According to the city, it hired the law firm Pierce Coleman to conduct an external independent investigation into the unit after a newly hired park ranger reported concerns about potential misconduct. Mesa police also initiated its own investigation.

The ranger alleged that they found an unreported firearm in a supervisor’s desk, observed the use of racial slurs, witnessed unauthorized activities, such as late-night ride-alongs, and questionable training as well as heard discussions that suggested the mishandling of evidence.

In addition to the rangers violations, the 263-page investigation found that Unit Supervisor Brett Burton and Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) Department Director Andrea Moore and Deputy Director Aimee Manis failed to take corrective action and act on city directives after Mesa police raised concerns multiple times about park rangers exceeding their legal authority.

“Mesa took this matter seriously from day one. This investigation made clear that a few bad actors within the Park Ranger unit violated city policies and oversight systems needed to be stronger,” Mesa City Manager Scott Butler said. “Mesa is committed to full transparency, to learning from these findings and to ensuring our parks are supported by a unit that operates lawfully, respectfully and in service to our community.”

After receiving the investigation’s findings, the PRCF director and deputy director retired. Meanwhile, Burton retired in October while he was on administrative leave.

Mesa police have been in charge of the Park Ranger unit, which now includes six active park rangers, since the allegations were made to ensure professional standards were being upheld. Those rangers have gone through extensive de-escalation, search and seizure and bias training by the department.

Currently, the park rangers duties involve opening and closing certain parks, facilities and amenities within the parks.

“There are clear and important distinctions between the roles of police officers and park rangers. Operating under the oversight of the Mesa Police Department, Park Rangers will focus on enforcing park code and engaging parkgoers to improve their experience across all our cherished green spaces,” Mesa Police Chief Dan Butler said. “The acts of misconduct were isolated to a few bad actors. We are providing current and future unit members with training so they can rise to the occasion and restore public trust.”

Mesa police has met with community stakeholders to ensure that the revamped Park Ranger unit align with their priorities.

The city will also begin the process to select a new PRCF director. In the meantime, Andrea Alicoate, who is assistant to the city manager, will be the department’s acting director.

Related

Echo Canyon Trail at Camelback Mountain to reopen after monthslong closureMaricopa County Parks to raise usage fees starting in 2026Father and son who developed Mesa sports park plead guilty to defrauding investorsWalmart announces $250K grant to boost workforce development opportunities in ArizonaAG Kris Mayes sues landlords for leaving Tucson tenants without air conditioningDriver dies after colliding with Valley Metro bus in south Phoenix while fleeing separate crash