The Phoenix Police Department has fired a veteran sergeant following his involvement in a confrontation with high school students during a political protest earlier this year.
Chief Matthew Giordano announced Thursday that Sgt. Dusten Mullen was terminated following a formal Loudermill hearing, a required process that allows public employees to respond to allegations before they are disciplined or fired.
The decision stems from an off-duty incident that occurred during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest near Hamilton High School in Chandler.
“Since becoming chief… I have been clear about the standards of accountability and professionalism expected of every member of this department,” Giordano said in a statement.
“Discipline is not about punishment — it is about correcting behavior. When behavior can be corrected, we take that path. But when an employee’s conduct is so serious that continued employment might no longer be viable, the matter proceeds through the Loudermill process.”
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Background of the investigation
Mullen had been on administrative leave since the incident gained national attention.
Video footage from the protest appeared to show Mullen, who was not in uniform at the time, engaging in a heated verbal exchange with students. The encounter prompted an internal investigation by the Phoenix Police Department and a separate probe by the Chandler Police Department.
While Mullen was off duty during the incident, Giordano emphasized that the badge carries weight regardless of whether an officer is on a shift.
“His actions raised significant concerns about judgment and professionalism,” Giordano said. “Although he was off duty and not in uniform, the oath we take binds us to a higher standard.”
Legal battles and community trust
The firing comes amid a backdrop of legal maneuvering. Earlier this year, Mullen’s attorney demanded the department reinstate the sergeant, arguing that his actions were protected by the First Amendment and that the department’s response was politically motivated.
However, community members and activists called for swifter action, citing the need for police accountability in the wake of the Department of Justice’s ongoing civil rights investigation into the Phoenix Police Department.
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge recently presided over a hearing regarding the protest, where the conduct of both the protesters and those counter-protesting, including Mullen, was scrutinized.
Giordano’s statement on Thursday leaned heavily on the department’s need to repair its relationship with the Phoenix community.
“Community trust is not something we are owed; it is something we earn every day,” Giordano said. “Addressing misconduct swiftly and fairly is essential to maintaining that trust.”
The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA), the union representing Phoenix officers, has not yet commented on whether they will appeal the chief’s decision.
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