PHOENIX (AP) - The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday that it won’t file criminal charges against a Phoenix police officer who allegedly threatened to shoot the city’s mayor.
Mayor Kate Gallego was given additional law enforcement protection after the alleged threat became public in October and the Tempe Police Department was asked to investigate.
A subsequent police report said Steve Poulos reportedly made the threat while on-duty and in uniform during a meeting with six other Phoenix police officers.
Gallego has pushed for police reforms and Poulos, a 22-year veteran, reportedly was upset about a possible defunding of the police force.
According to the report, Poulos backtracked after the meeting and said his comment about harming Gallego was made in jest.
The county Attorney’s Office said it “cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Poulos’ statements constituted a ‘true threat’ as defined by Arizona law. While the statements are inexcusable, legal precedent prevents a reasonable likelihood of conviction at trial and therefore, we are declining to file criminal charges in this case.”
A spokesman for Gallego said the mayor was disappointed, but “hopes this decision won’t discourage anyone from reporting a threat.”
Calls to Phoenix police and Poulos’ attorney for comment weren’t immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.
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