LAURIE ROBERTS

Roberts: Yahner must 'weed' out bad cops ASAP

Laurie Roberts
opinion columnist


As a public service, The Arizona Republic publishes descriptions of people wanted in crimes. Call 480-WITNESS (948-6377) or 800-343-TIPS (8477). Rewards are as much as $1,000.

Here are fugitives sought by Phoenix Police Department.

Update: The three officers have resigned.

At a time when police officers across the country are being scrutinized for excessive force, a group of Phoenix police officers has apparently set a new standard for misconduct.

Phoenix Police Chief Joe Yahner on Thursday announced that his department is investigating allegations that several of his officers forced a teenager to eat marijuana during a traffic stop last week.

Really.

Yahner called the allegations “disturbing and upsetting.”

Me? I’d call them a firing offense if they’re true and I’m guessing they must be, given that chief put out a public announcement about the incident.

According to Yahner’s statement, officers stopped a 19-year-old Phoenix man in the wee hours on Sept. 13 in Maryvale and found marijuana in his car.

“Upon the discovery, the officers demanded he eat the marijuana to avoid being taken to jail,” Yahner said. “The resident reported that he ate the marijuana, was issued traffic tickets and then released from the scene.”

Does it really matter why they did it?

A source told me that four officers were involved – including three recent graduates of the police academy. Yahner said two officers are facing a criminal investigation in addition to an internal investigation.

The alleged conduct, he said, is "contrary to everything we stand for as community servants.”

I'm guessing Yahner will fire them before the week is out if these allegations are true, and good for him. He should take strong, decisive and very public action because these cops didn't just hurt a 19-year-old kid, if the story is true. They hurt every police officer out there -- the decent ones who go to work every day and every night and try to do things the right way.

In the end, it doesn't really matter why these officers did what they did, if this occurred.

Either they're arrogant bullies, in which case they need to go.

Or they’re lazy and didn’t want to handle the paperwork that comes with an arrest, in which case they need to go.

Or they simply lack the judgment to be carrying a gun and a badge, in which case… well, you know.