Senta Scarborough
The Arizona Republic
MESA - A Mesa police sergeant will be demoted to the rank of officer after an internal review board found he made mistakes in judgment and violated department policy in a standoff that ended in the shooting death last year of a mentally retarded woman.
Police Chief Dennis Donna on Friday demoted Sgt. Larry Hall in the death of Mary Ann Minchew, 23.
Sgt. Harold Rankin, a second officer involved in Minchew’s shooting, was cleared, although the board also recommended his demotion.
This is the first time that a Mesa police officer has been disciplined in an officer-involved shooting in at least five years. Donna acted after reviewing the report of a four-month police Board of Inquiry into the Sept. 6, 2003, incident at a west Mesa trailer park.
Hall and Rankin were the only two officers to enter Minchew’s trailer. Hall fired a beanbag gun from outside and was first to enter her trailer. They told investigators they thought Minchew had been stunned by the beanbag, but found her standing with a knife and threatening them. Hall fired the beanbag again and Rankin fired eight rounds. One hit Minchew.
Donna, in a written decision, said Rankin’s actions were significantly different from Hall’s because he attempted to end the standoff by de-escalating the situation and trying to establish rapport with Minchew.
“Once Sgt. Hall fired and started into the trailer, Rankin found himself having to make an instantaneous decision. He was forced to decide whether to enter the trailer to protect another officer,” he wrote.
The board of inquiry said in its report that the shooting might have been avoided if the sergeants had “exhibited self-control.”
All officers involved were cleared of criminal wrongdoing earlier this year by the County Attorney’s Office.
Joe Shelley, president of the Mesa Police Association, said Friday that the group would file a grievance for Hall.
“I am disappointed that he was demoted and I know the officers on the streets that I have talked to are shocked the demotion was upheld,” he said. “This is probably the toughest decision he (the chief) has had to make. Hall is very popular with the troops. He is one of the top guys. When the chips are down, he is one of the guys you want.”
Hall, a nine-year Mesa officer and a former New York City police officer, has only one blemish in his personnel file, for failing to meet some monthly reports deadlines. He has won several awards and is described in annual reviews as a “leader,” “motivator,” and someone who stays “calm” in stressful situations.
The review board found that Hall made mistakes by: