Glendale mayor says priority is public safety after cop shocks man 11 times

PHOENIX — The mayor of a Phoenix-area city targeted in a new lawsuit regarding an aggressive traffic stop in 2017 assured residents that they were in good hands with their elected officials.

“I assure each of you that our top priority as a [city] council is public safety–with the expectation of transparency and accountability,” a statement from Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers read.

“I believe that it is imperative that we hold our police officers to the highest professional standards and our citizens have every right to expect nothing less.”

The statement was handed out at a city council workshop on Tuesday, according to ABC15.

It was released in response to the public backlash over a July 2017 incident when an officer used a stun gun on a man about 11 times, including once in his genital area.

Johnny Wheatcroft, 37, is suing the city of Glendale and officers Matt Schneider, Mark Lindsey and Michael Fernandez, claiming excessive force in the July 26, 2017, incident.

Body camera footage of the incident was released last Friday.

Wheatcroft was the passenger in a silver Ford Taurus that was pulled over in a Motel 6 parking lot for an alleged turn signal violation.

Officers asked Wheatcroft and the driver for identification, which neither of them said they had.

The traffic stop soon turned violent once Schneider used a Taser on Wheatcroft in front of his young children, wife and friend.

There was no monetary amount detailed in the lawsuit. Wheatcroft’s lawyer Marc Victor said he expects the case to go to trial, even though a date has not been set.

Glendale mayor statement by on Scribd

Follow @suerthjessica