and last updated 2021-02-02 00:14:15-05
PHOENIX â The Phoenix officer who was accused of vowing to shoot Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has decided to resign, the police department announced Monday.
Officer Steven Poulos provided his retirement notice to the department before a pre-termination meeting, that was scheduled to happen with Chief Jeri Williams and himself to review the findings of the investigation following the alleged threats.
Officials said Poulos is no longer employed with the Phoenix Police Department and stated that retirement eliminates options for the department to consider disciplinary action.
Police Chief Jeri Williams shared the following statement regarding Poulos:
Phoenix Police: Officer accused of threatening Mayor Kate Gallego no longer with the department
By Kenneth Wong
Phoenix Police Department
PHOENIX - Phoenix Police officials say a police officer who was accused of threatening Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego will not face disciplinary action due to retirement.
According to FOX 10 s report on the incident in late October 2020, Poulos, who was not identified at the time by police officials, was assigned to home following the incident. Officials with Mayor Gallego s office said at the time that they are aware of a credible threat made by a member of the Phoenix Police Department to harm the mayor.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Phoenix PD officers describe hearing colleague threaten Mayor Kate Gallego
12 News obtained body camera footage showing Tempe PD detectives interviewing Phoenix officers who witnessed the alleged threat. Author: Bianca Buono Updated: 10:33 PM MST January 22, 2021
PHOENIX A calm, cool and collected police officer who meets all standards and occasionally likes to vent during briefings. That s how fellow police officers described their colleague Officer Steven Poulos.
They were shocked when one of his venting sessions turned into threatening the mayor s life. I didn t say anything about it, you know. I was just thinking to myself like, man why would you say something like that, you know? said an officer who witnessed Poulos statement.