Glendale police officer suspended for excessive use of force

PHOENIX – A Glendale police officer was suspended for 30 hours without pay for using excessive force during a traffic stop earlier this year, authorities said Wednesday.

Officer Matthew Salyers was accused of hitting an uncooperative suspect in the face with an empty hand several times during a March traffic stop.

“The men and women of the Glendale Police Department make split-second decisions daily,” Chris Briggs, interim police chief, said in a press release. “There are times when our officers’ decisions are not in line with our policies or training, which is the case in this incident.

“We take these situations seriously and take appropriate action to ensure that we are living up to the high standards that we expect of ourselves and that our community deserves.”

Another officer was present during the incident, which was captured on body-worn cameras.

Police said the suspect was treated in the hospital for a cut under his eye before being booked for failure to provide identification as the driver and resisting arrest.

The police department investigated the incident and recommended a 40-hour suspension in May.

The suspect’s resistance didn’t reach the level of active aggression, police said. Therefore, using strikes to the head area violated department policy.

Salyers appealed the initial ruling, which the chief of police upheld in July. He appealed again to the city personnel board, which recommenced a reduction to a range between no action and 20 hours.

City Manager Kevin Phelps, who has final say in all appeals, issued the final 30-hour suspension this week.

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