By Senta Scarborough and Patricia Biggs, The Arizona Republic
APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. - An independent audit blasted the Apache Junction, Ariz. Police Department for everything from poor technology to failing to prevent the shooting death of a teenager by a sergeant.
The report, presented to the City Council on Monday night, stated that the April 19, 2001, death of Ali Altug in his kitchen “may have been prevented had the management of the police department and/or human resources department taken an assertive rather than a timid stance with Sgt. Robert ‘Woody’ Haywood.”
The 364-page report by Carroll Buracker and Associates found that the police department had ample evidence before the shooting to know that a psychologist should have evaluated Haywood.
Before the fatal shooting, Haywood was involved in eight incidents the auditors termed “red flags": Abusive language, unnecessary firing of a shotgun, punching an arrestee already under control, questionable dog shootings, two exaggerated injuries, freezing under pressure and more involvements in using force than any other officer in a year.
The 16-year-old’s death resulted in a $1.6 million civil settlement between the city and his parents, Reha and Sande Altug. That settlement was the catalyst for the independent audit, authorized by the City Council last November.
Patrick Brenner, city spokesman, said there are no scheduled council discussions or public meetings on the report.
The report praises the police department’s Victims Services Unit and its community policing. But the overall tone of the report’s executive summary is highly critical.
The report, looking toward the future, states: “The safety of police officers and residents in an agency with so much friction is a major concern of this study team.”
It suggests reorganizing the department, including top management, and adding officers to catch up with growth.
Among the audit’s findings:
-- In the past five years, there has been a very low incident of disciplinary action taken against sworn officers. Civilian employees were disciplined twice as often. Internal investigations are not handled using standard procedures, the audit found.
-- In early 2003, a detective filed a complaint against another detective, alleging manipulation of data involving caseloads and clearance rates. Police Chief Robert Warner did not launch an official investigation. Though a polygraph exam was administered, key questions were not asked. The report recommends that the database be thoroughly investigated by an outside agency.
-- The analog radio system is outdated, with “dead spots.” The records management and computer-aided dispatch systems are not up to par.
-- The detectives work a 10-hour shift and no nights or Saturdays, which the report said plays “more to the convenience of the officer than the needs of the victim.”
-- Complaints by police department employees listed in the report included: Use of unmarked cars for off-duty work, merit-pay issues, use of city Internet for e-mail, and playing golf on city time.