Chief’s first major firing sends message at Phoenix PD

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:01]He's a sergeant. He's a supervisor. He's the one that is is looked to by his peers.

[00:00:07]>> Former Arizona Police Chief and law enforcement expert Stan Carfort says this firing sends a message both inside the department and to the public. I think that the action, behavior, and conduct of the chief uh is is far on. Chief Matt Giordano terminated Phoenix Police Sergeant Dustin Mullen, calling his actions during a January student walkout serious and a threat to community trust.

[00:00:34]>> My plan is legitimately to just let them all assault me and you guys arrest them all.

[00:00:38]>> Chandler police reports say Mullen showed up off-duty, armed, and wearing a face covering during a high school protest over immigration policies.

[00:00:47]>> The intention was clear. He was there.

[00:00:50]He was armed along with the intent to to have others attack him. The firing comes as Phoenix police continue facing pressure after the DOJ's years-long scathing report listing excessive force, unlawful detentions, and discrimination against minority communities, protesters, and people experiencing homelessness. Hi, Matt Giordano.

[00:01:15]Giordano, who was sworn in last August after a national search, has said rebuilding trust is central to his leadership. In a statement, the chief said community trust is not something we are owed. It's something we earn every day. When you come in and you put your foot down and say no, there's an emotional reaction. Mullen's attorney disputes the investigation, saying Mullen was exercising his First Amendment rights and did not incite violence. Mullen has filed an emergency motion in federal court trying to block his termination, but Carfort says for a department under scrutiny, the chief has to act.

[00:01:57]>> I think the chief is sending that message and I think it's loud and clear and quite frankly I applaud him for doing his job.

[00:02:06]This firing is already emerging as a defining moment early on in the chief's tenure and it's a real-time test of his promise to change the culture inside Phoenix Police. Yeah, no doubt there were a lot of eyes on where where he was going to come down with this decision.

[00:02:22]What is the police union saying about this firing? Well, I've been reaching out to PLEA and the Arizona Law Enforcement Association several times throughout this ongoing investigation and I've never heard back, but we do know the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs argue it's protected off-duty speech saying it was a sloppy internal investigation.

[00:02:44]Alexis Dominguez, thank you.