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Former Goodyear lieutenant speaks out after terminated for improper death investigations

The city announced Monday that Lt. Dwayne Pollard's termination had been upheld after an independent hearing officer reviewed the evidence against him.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — A Goodyear police lieutenant's termination has been upheld after an independent hearing officer found the city had cause to fire him over how he handled death investigations. 

The city said Monday that Lt. Dwayne Pollard's termination had been sustained after Goodyear fired the officer last November for violating the city's policies. 

According to the city, Pollard improperly examined deceased individuals in a way that wasn't consistent with the police department's standards. 

“I believe that Pollard's actions were policy violations in which he should have never done the actions that he did to begin with because they're not consistent with our internal policies," said Goodyear Police Chief Santiago Rodriguez.

Up to 11 natural death investigations were found to have been potentially mishandled by Pollard, city officials said. The city's policies only allow for a medical examiner to move, handle, search, or remove a deceased person. 

“Pollard’s actions are not a reflection of the integrity shown every day by the hard-working men and women in my department,” Rodriguez wrote in a statement.  

Pollard's termination was recently upheld by an independent hearing officer who reviewed the facts and evidence against the officer. 

Pollard's side of the story

Pollard believes his case was sensationalized.

“I'm just heartbroken about the whole thing," Pollard said in an interview with 12 News. “I'm in dismay, I really can't believe that has come to this or it's gotten this far.”

Pollard argues he was just trying to conduct thorough investigations. He said he did not know what he was doing was against department policy and that multiple colleagues were aware of the practices for years.

He said had he been told to stop what he was doing, he would've immediately.

"These particular cases were just making sure that the officers were gathering enough information that could prove that it was a natural death," Pollard said. "Nothing more."

Pollard questions the timeline of his termination.

In April of 2021, he was placed on administrative leave. 

On June 28, he was brought back to modified duty and an 80-hour suspension was recommended.

But on July 19, 12 News filed a public records request about Pollard's case. 12 News followed up with Goodyear PD on July 27 and on July 28, Pollard was put back on administrative leave. 

He was ultimately terminated.

“I feel like everything changed, it seemed, right after the media requests," Pollard said.

Following 12 News' request, Pollard's case was sent to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which determined that Pollard did not engage in any criminal activity and did not violate any state statutes.  

DPS concluded there was "no evidence suggesting Pollard acted in malice or outside the scope of his responsibilities.”

Rodriguez noted DPS' criminal investigation was separate from the city's internal investigation.

Goodyear HR investigation

Pollard wrote in a letter fighting for his job back that he “provided reasonable explanations for his actions” and that the investigation was quote “flawed from the outset.”

He further claimed the police department and city are "racially prejudiced." And that he has been called the "N-word" by colleagues and at least one supervisor. He stated some later created a code word, "Mississippi," in place of the racial slur.

Pollard stated prior to his administrative leave, he was compared to a mentally impaired Simpsons character, Ralph Wiggum, during a command staff meeting photographed with a picture of the cartoon.

Rodriguez told 12 News a human resources investigation is looking into those allegations now.

Rodriguez said families of the deceased individuals in the cases identified in Pollard's internal affairs investigation have been notified.

Goodyear police have since referred all its officers to attend refresher training administered by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office in natural death scene procedures.

The police department has been plagued by several personnel issues in recent years, including the termination of former Police Chief Jerry Geier in 2019. 

RELATED: A Goodyear police officer filed a report against a Goodyear police lieutenant in 2020. Here’s everything that’s happened since.

RELATED: Goodyear SWAT team goes non-operational after hazing allegations exposed

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