Mesa officer accused of harassment placed on home duty after new claims

PHOENIX – The Mesa police officer at the center of a $1 million claim over sexual harassment was placed on home duty after more accusers surfaced last week, the city said Tuesday.

The revelation was part of an emailed statement in which the city explained its response to complaints about Sgt. Jerry Neese’s behavior lodged by subordinate members of the force.

The statement said the city “took very seriously the accusations in all cases” and “acted consistent with its zero-tolerance policy.”

Neese was demoted to officer after multiple accusations were found to be valid, but his accusers want to see him fired.

New complaints of sexual harassment by Neese in 2017 and 2018 were made last Friday by two women who don’t work for the city, according to the email.

That was a day after a group of six female officers and a male officer who says Neese harassed his wife filed a claim of notice against the city seeking more than $1 million, $150,000 per claimant, and publicized the issue through a press conference.

Neese has been reassigned to his home while the latest allegations are being investigated, according to the city’s statement.

An attorney for the seven officers said the actions aren’t sufficient.

“Today’s decision by the city of Mesa to assign Jeffrey Neese to home duty comes far too late to remedy the hostile work environment that several officers have felt for the last nine months,” David Lunn said in an email Tuesday.

“We still don’t understand why he’s being paid while on home duty. How many victims does it take for the city to follow its zero-tolerance policy?”

The officers who filed the claim of notice, a precursor to a lawsuit, accused Neese of creating a hostile work environment by sending sexually explicit text messages, asking some of the women for photos and drawing them naked and sending them the images.

The claim (WARNING: explicit images and language) filed by Amanda Cook, Ashley Elliff, Elisha Gibbs, Brandon Hamilton, Elsie Keim, Cindy Martinez and Christen Rope accused the city of of failing to take appropriate action because Neese remained on the staff.

The city’s statement said Neese was immediately reassigned to a role where he was unlikely to have contact with his accusers and an investigation was launched after the first complaints were received Aug. 8, 2018.

The statement also said that while the city later received additional complaints against Neese, including the ones lodged last week, none of the reported harassment occurred after the initial complaints were made.

“Neese was progressively reassigned and demoted to his current position and standing in the department pending the outcome of the current investigation,” the statement said.

Below is the complete, unedited text of Mesa’s statement, which was emailed to the media:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

The City of Mesa and Mesa Police Department are committed to providing a workplace that is free from sexual and workplace harassment as this type of conduct is not, and will not, be tolerated. In fact, all employees are required to take a mandatory training on discrimination and harassment. With regards to sustained allegations, resulting disciplinary actions and new complaints involving Officer Jeffrey Neese, the City took very seriously the accusations in all cases, began immediate investigations and acted consistent with its zero-tolerance policy. In all instances, the highest priority was assuring that the complainants were able to work in a safe and harassment-free work environment. Neese was progressively reassigned and demoted to his current position and standing in the department pending the outcome of the current investigation.

SUMMARY FACTS

Last week, six members of the Mesa Police Department and their attorney announced they would file a notice of claim pertaining to allegations of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment pertaining to Mesa Police Officer Jeffrey Neese.

The first complaint against then-Sergeant Jeffrey Neese was received by the City Aug. 8, 2018. The police department promptly notified City Human Resources of the complaints and reassigned Neese to an administrative position the next day. This position was one where contact with the complainants was unlikely. He was also ordered to have no contact with the complainants.

The City promptly investigated the allegations, interviewing multiple witnesses. The investigation was completed on Oct. 30, 2018, and four out of five allegations were sustained. The case was then forwarded to the Police Department for review and to determine appropriate discipline. Prior to final discipline being imposed, on March 9, 2019, another member of the police department came forward to report similar allegations of sexual harassment against Neese that occurred in March/April 2018. Neese was again immediately reassigned to an administrative assignment where he would not come into contact with any of the complainants. Human Resources promptly started a new investigation, including, with full cooperation by the complainant and her attorney, an independent forensic analysis of the text messages to confirm validity.

Human Resources concluded the investigation and sustained the allegations by the new complainant on May 23, 2019. The Police Department conducted its review and, on July 10, imposed discipline of demotion and disciplinary probation in both cases. Neese was demoted to patrol officer assigned to a district where none of the complainants are assigned and prohibited from working in the future in any division where the complainants are assigned.

On Friday, July 19, two additional women came forward alleging Officer Neese engaged in similar conduct in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Neither of these women work for the City of Mesa. As a result of the new allegations, Officer Neese was promptly reassigned to his home while an investigation is pending.

Officer Neese received the same sexual harassment training that all City employees receive. He also received additional one-on-one training in 2018 after the first complainants came forward.

The City/Police Department has received no complaints or information that Neese has engaged in any acts of sexual or workplace harassment after the initial complaints were filed in August 2018.

Below is the complete, unedited text of attorney Lunn’s response:

Today’s decision by the City of Mesa to assign Jeffrey Neese to home duty comes far too late to remedy the hostile work environment that several officers have felt for the last nine months. We still don’t understand why he’s being paid while on home duty. How many victims does it take for the City to follow it’s zero tolerance policy? After these first seven victims came forward at the press conference last week, several more victims have stepped forward and shared their story with the City. These victims are not just within the Police Department, but around the City where Sgt. Neese found his victims while performing off-duty jobs secured through the Police Department while wearing uniforms identifying him as a Mesa Police Officer and City of Mesa employee.

How many more victims will continue stepping forward, now as the victim list continues to grow?

It begs the question of if the City was aware of of Neese’s predatory behavior prior to these officers coming forward. Had the City and Police Department acted sooner than today, the officers would not have been forced to work in a hostile work environment fearful of retribution.

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