A police official in Arizona has been placed on administrative leave after showing up armed to a student-led protest and provoking an altercation that led to the arrest of a teenage girl. The officer told fellow police who arrived on the scene that he attended the students’ immigration rights protest with the intent of acting as an agent provocateur, according to a news report.

Dusten Mullen, a sergeant with the Phoenix Police Department, has been suspended with pay pending an internal review of his conduct at a protest at Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona, on January 30, according to Phoenix Police Chief Matthew Giordano.

“As law enforcement professionals, we are held to higher standards of conduct — both in and out of uniform,” Giordano said. “When we fall short, we must be accountable, and we will not tolerate actions which undermine the trust the community has placed in the Department.”

Fox 10 Phoenix, the outlet to first identify Mullen, reported that Mullen told Chandler Police Department officers on the scene that he was there in the hopes of getting a rise out of the kids that would then allow the local cops to cuff them.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Pending an investigation where another cop has already documented his behavior and zero cops took part in his plan…

      Like, he should absolutely be held without bail.

      But are you seriously arguing being charged with a crime should result in immediate termination?

      Are you aware that if found guilty that pay is almost always recouped?

      Like…

      That’s how it should work.

      I get being mad at cops in general, but this is legit a one in a million case where shit is happening exactly as it should. If you just want to blindless cir lejerk about how cops are pieces of shit as demographic, there’s plenty of places where the article isn’t about one single piece of shit and literally every other cop seemingly doing what they should.

      Don’t just blindly rage about shit, if you do you’re fall for a charismatic twitch streamer who just wants eyeballs and views.

      If you’re mad (and we should all be) at least be productive

    • thejoker954@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      That’s not on the cops who actually called it out though. That’s on their higher ups and the police union.

      • Red_October@piefed.world
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        1 day ago

        So your point is that the core leadership being corrupt is… a redeeming quality? Unimportant? Someone writing a report is worthy of salvation but the leadership giving the perpetrator a paid vacation is no big deal? Fuck that.

        • thejoker954@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          No, I’m arguing that it sounds like the rank and file cops did what cops should do (and report their fellow cop). And the leadership and union are the bastards in this situation. The cop getting paid leave isn’t up to his fellow officers - it’s up to his superiors and his corrupt union.