TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - A Tempe police officer has begun serving a two-week unpaid suspension and will work a desk job for at least the next year for holding a Black hotel employee at gunpoint while searching for an armed suspect described as white.
A city investigation of the Aug. 29 incident at the hotel where Trevonyae Cumpian worked and was detained by Officer Ronald Kerzaya determined that the officer had violated city policies, Tempe officials said in a statement.
Kerzaya will take part in a performance improvement process and recently passed a psychological examination that determines fitness for duty, the statement said.
The City Council on Wednesday approved a $300,000 settlement with Cumpian who in September filed a $2.5 million claim - a precursor to a possible lawsuit - against the city for emotional trauma and related therapy.
“Once things became hostile and he said I fit the description and had me get down to my knees with the gun on me, all I could think about was my daughter, my family, and my life flashed before my eyes,” Cumpian said during a September news conference. “I thought I was going to die.”
Cumpian claimed he was racially profiled and he and others had called for Kerzaya to be fired, but interim Police Chief Jeff Glover said that was not possible under Tempe’s system of progressive discipline. Kerzaya had no previous discipline, the statement said.
“My determination of discipline in Officer Kerzaya’s case does not excuse his behavior, which was unacceptable and disheartening. We must address the behavior,” Glover said. “But we must also take responsibility and make the changes that will help ensure this does not occur again.”
During the incident, Kerzaya would not lower his gun pointed at Cumpian until he confirmed that Cumpian was a hotel employee.
The suspect was not found.
Kerzaya wrote in his official response during the investigation that he had reflected on his conduct during the incident. The response was included in the city’s statement.
“I understand that my actions have caused a tremendous amount of anguish for many different people, and I cannot convey enough how remorseful I am for my actions and the aftermath that so many people have been forced to deal with and continue to deal with to this day,” Kerzaya said.
The Tempe statement said the investigation concluded that a police supervisor at the scene failed to provide adequate supervision. The supervisor, who was not identified, was given a 40-hour unpaid suspension.
Glover concluded that Kerzaya was responsible for his actions and should be held accountable. However, Glover also concluded that the Police Department had failed to adequately supervise Kerzaya and provide him mental and emotional support following trauma experienced during his career, the statement said.
After the incident, Kerzaya was placed in a non-patrol, administrative role pending the investigation.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.