2011 Arizona Revised Statutes
Title 38 Public Officers and Employees
38-1104 Discipline of law enforcement officers; exceptions; definitions

38-1104. Discipline of law enforcement officers; exceptions; definitions

A. A law enforcement officer shall not be subject to disciplinary action except for just cause.

B. Subsection A of this section does not apply to any law enforcement officer who has not completed an initial probationary period if a probationary period is required by the employer or to a dismissal that is for administrative purposes, including a reduction in force.

C. This section does not preempt agreements that supplant, revise or otherwise alter the provisions of this section, including preexisting agreements, between the employer and the law enforcement officer's lawful representative association.

D. If a law enforcement officer is terminated as the result of a chief of the law enforcement agency or the chief executive officer of a city or town reversing the decision or recommendation of a civil service board or merit commission, the law enforcement officer who believes the termination was without just cause may bring an action in superior court for a new hearing on the termination.

E. If a law enforcement officer is terminated by the chief of the law enforcement agency or chief executive officer of a city or town where there is not a civil service board or merit commission to review the termination, the law enforcement officer may bring an action in superior court to review the agency's file. If the court finds from a review of the file that just cause for the termination did not exist, the officer is entitled to a hearing on the termination.

F. If the superior court finds that just cause for the termination did not exist, the court shall order the officer reinstated to the officer's previous position with the law enforcement agency and may award to the law enforcement officer monetary damages that shall not exceed the officer's combined total of wages and benefits lost as a result of the termination.

G. In an action pursuant to subsection D or E of this section the court may award the successful party reasonable attorney fees as set forth in section 12-341.01, subsection B and shall award the successful party all costs pursuant to section 12-341.

H. This section does not apply to a law enforcement officer who is employed as an at will employee as a police chief or an assistant police chief in a law enforcement agency.

I. For the purposes of this section:

1. "At will employee" means a person who is employed as an employee who may be terminated at the will of either the employee or employer, at any time, with or without cause.

2. "Disciplinary action" has the same meaning prescribed in section 38-1101.

3. "Just cause" means:

(a) The employer informed the officer of the possible disciplinary action resulting from the officer's conduct through agency manuals, employee handbooks, the employer's rules and regulations or other communications to the officer or the conduct was such that the officer should have reasonably known disciplinary action could occur.

(b) The disciplinary action is reasonably related to the standards of conduct for a professional law enforcement officer, the mission of the agency, the orderly, efficient or safe operation of the agency or the officer's fitness for duty.

(c) The discipline is supported by a preponderance of evidence that the conduct occurred.

(d) The discipline is not excessive and is reasonably related to the seriousness of the offense and the officer's service record.

4. "Law enforcement officer" means:

(a) An individual who is certified by the Arizona peace officer standards and training board, other than a person employed by a multi-county water conservation district, a reserve police officer, a volunteer or a person who is otherwise exempted by an existing merit system.

(b) A correction officer or detention officer, excluding a juvenile detention officer, who is employed by this state or a political subdivision of this state.

(c) A regularly appointed and paid deputy sheriff of a county.

(d) A regularly employed police officer in a city or town.