Goodyear upholds firing of former police lieutenant for improper death investigations

PHOENIX – City officials in a Phoenix suburb reaffirmed Monday the firing of a police officer for violating department protocols regarding certain death investigations.

Former Goodyear Police Department Lt. Dwayne Pollard was booted off the force Nov. 19, 2021, after an internal investigation into his actions in 11 natural death inquiries. He appealed the firing.

An independent hearing officer recommended the appeal be denied and Pollard’s termination upheld, according to a press release.

Pollard was accused of examining the bodies “in a way that’s not consistent with what’s expected with these types of cases,” the city said.

Under departmental policy, only the medical examiner is allowed to touch, move or remove a dead body at the scene. Officers are only allowed to make reasonable searches for identification of the dead or nearly dead.

Neither city leaders nor police released details how exactly Pollard broke the rules but outside investigators with the Arizona Department of Public Safety said he hadn’t committed any crimes or violated state laws.

“Pollard’s actions are not a reflection of the integrity shown every day by the hard-working men and women in my department,” Goodyear Police Chief Santiago Rodriguez said in a press release.

“These actions do not represent the trust and confidence the community has in our officers.”

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