Phoenix Police Sgt. Dusten Mullen was criticized by Chandler Councilman OD Harris following reports that he used his rank to intimidate officers at a crash scene. Newly obtained internal emails detail allegations of his behavior, which was deemed unprofessional and confrontational.
from SUN 11:00 AM MST until SUN 11:00 PM MST, Southern Gila County/Tonto National Forest Foothills, Eastern Pima-Southeastern Pinal-Santa Cruz-Western Cochise, Northern Graham-Northern Greenlee-White and Gila Mountains, Southern Graham-Central and Eastern Cochise-Southern Greenlee-Lower Elevations of the San Carlos Apache Nation in Graham Countyfrom SUN 11:00 AM MST until SUN 8:00 PM MST, White Mountains, Eastern Mogollon Rim, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County, Marble and Glen Canyons, Grand Canyon Country, Kaibab Plateau, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache Countyfrom SAT 11:00 AM MST until SAT 8:00 PM MST, Western Mogollon Rim, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County, Eastern Mogollon Rim, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County, Yavapai County Mountains, Coconino Plateau, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino Countyfrom SUN 12:00 PM MDT until SUN 9:00 PM MDT, Chinle Valley, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Hwy 264, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward, Black Mesa Area, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateaufrom SAT 12:00 PM MDT until SAT 9:00 PM MDT, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward, Black Mesa Area, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Hwy 264Councilman OD Harris criticizes former sergeant Dusten Mullen following reports of him using his rank to intimidate officers at a crash scene.
Newly obtained internal emails detail allegations that former Phoenix Police Sgt. Dusten Mullen used his rank to intimidate Chandler officers and impede a 2025 traffic investigation. The Phoenix Police Department closed an inquiry into the incident without finding policy violations, despite Chandler officials describing Mullen's behavior as unprofessional and confrontational. The new information comes as Mullen was fired for his actions at an anti-ICE protest and is suing Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano.
On April 30, 2025, Chandler police responded to the scene of a traffic collision at the intersection of Arizona Avenue and the Loop 202 Santan Freeway just after 9 p.m. A T-bone collision involved two cars, and one of the drivers is the son of then-Phoenix police sergeant Dusten Mullen. When Mullen arrived at the scene, Chandler police say he identified himself as a Phoenix officer.
An internal email from Chandler Police Sergeant Brian Lutt, sent to colleagues the day after the accident, outlines the encounter. The subject line states: "Off duty Phx Sgt. behavior on the scene of an accident. He made it a point of identifying his rank and agency, then conducting himself in an unprofessional, confrontational, accusatory manner which delayed the investigation.
" The email says when Mullen was asked if an officer could take a photo of the digital insurance card on his phone, he refused, saying he "knows the law" since he’s a sergeant with the Phoenix Police Department. According to the officer, Mullen said he didn’t trust Chandler police because two officers had "slept with his ex," going on to say, "You’ve gone after me.
" When a police aide told Mullen that the cars had to be towed, the email says Mullen wanted to know who was getting a ticket before he provided tow information. The email concludes with Lutt saying he found "Mullen’s behavior to be inappropriate, to say the least. There was no reason to identify himself as a police officer, except to intimidate the officers on scene and gain control of the conversations and impede the investigation.
""They were concerned that his behavior was not in line with what a law enforcement officer should be doing and this is why they sent the email," Chandler Councilman OD Harris said.near Hamilton High School where he showed up masked and armed with a gun, telling police it was his plan to let students assault him. Mullen is seen on body camera footage saying, "My plan is legitimately to just let them all assault me and you guys arrest them all, and I will keep it on film and I also have other people filming from a distance, so my goal would be to get all these kids in jail if they want to break the law.
"Phoenix Police Chief Matthew Giordano fired Sgt. Dusten Mullen following a controversial encounter with student protesters in Chandler. After that crash investigation in 2025, Chandler police notified the Phoenix Police Department Professional Standards Bureau about Mullen’s conduct. Phoenix Police Commander Mercedes Fortune provided a statement to FOX, saying the bureau "reviewed all available materials, including reports, body-worn camera footage, and witness accounts.
Although concerns were documented by Chandler officers, the review did not establish a policy violation under Phoenix Police Department standards. Sergeant Mullen was not a party to the collision and arrived after the incident. The inquiry has been closed.
" Mullen’s attorney, Steve Serbalik, also responded to FOX, saying "in the earlier case, that matter was thoroughly and fairly investigated, Sgt. Mullen answered all questions asked by the professional standards' bureau, and there was no finding of misconduct. This was the correct result in that matter.
"However, Harris does agree with Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano’s decision Thursday to fire Mullen for his actions at the Chandler protest. Meanwhile, Mullen has an ongoing lawsuit against the city, specifically Giordano. He is accusing the chief of fast-tracking the internal investigation and retaliating against his right to protected speech. There is a hearing in federal court on Monday.
May 18 at 3 p.m."The Chandler Police Department submitted the 2025 incident to our professional standards bureau for evaluation. The bureau reviewed all available materials, including reports, body‑worn camera footage, and witness accounts. Although concerns were documented by Chandler officers, the review did not establish a policy violation under Phoenix Police Department standards. Sergeant Mullen was not a party to the collision and arrived after the incident.
The inquiry has been closed.
""Sgt. Mullen believes there are significant differences between allegations of misconduct and sustained violations of misconduct. In the earlier case, that matter was thoroughly and fairly investigated. Sgt. mullen answered all questions asked by the professional standards' bureau, and there was no finding of misconduct.
This was the correct result in that matter.
"Statements from the Phoenix Police Department, Chandler Councilman OD Harris, Dusten Mullen's attorney, Steve Serbalik, City of Chandler records, and previous FOX 10 reporting.
Intimidation Traffic Investigation Off Duty Rank Phoenix Police Department Chandler Police Department Sergeant Brian Lutt Digital Insurance Card Student Protesters Crashed Into Car T-Bone Collision
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