Tyron McAlpin case: Phoenix PD suspends officers, issues de-escalation training
Tyron McAlpin case: Phoenix officers suspended
3 officers with the Phoenix Police Department have been disciplined in connection with an incident in August 2024 that involved a deaf and disabled man. The officers will be suspended without pay for 24 hours, and two of them will also have to attend additional de-escalation training.
PHOENIX - The Phoenix Police officers who were seen hitting a deaf and disabled man, Tyron McAlpin, on video have been suspended and will need to attend additional training.
The department said on March 25 that the three officers, Jorge Acosta, Benjamin Harris and Kyle Sue, were issued a 24-hour unpaid suspension. Two of the officers will need to attend de-escalation training.
"Our priority is always the safety and well-being of our community and our officers. We understand the concerns raised by this incident, and we take them seriously," said Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan. "The decision to suspend the officers reflects our commitment to accountability and maintaining public trust. At the same time, we stand by the men and women of this department who are placed in difficult situations every day. We will continue to support our officers with training and guidance to ensure they can perform their duties safely and effectively. Our goal is to learn from this and move forward together as a stronger department and community."
The backstory:
Video shows McAlpin’s Aug. 19, 2024, arrest near Indian School Road and 12th Street.
Phoenix Police say McAplin bit and swung at them, while his attorney says he was the victim of a violent police assault.
According to a report, this all began when officers were called to a gas station for reports of a fight. A man falsely identified McAlpin as his attacker from across the street.
Charges dropped against disabled deaf man who was hit by Phoenix Police officers
The county attorney's office says charges against Tyron McAlpin, the disabled deaf man who was seen being hit by Phoenix Police officers, have been dropped.
McAlpin is deaf and has cerebral palsy. He and his lawyer are suing the city for $3.5 million.
The other side:
The President of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) released a statement on the department's decision.
"We are appalled by the determination made by Interim Chief Sullivan to suspend the three officers involved in the McAlpin case. A situation that was previously reviewed internally by subject matter experts of the Force Evaluation and Review Unit and deemed to be within policy has suddenly been reversed due to public pressure, based on biased media reporting.
The officers who responded to this incident were met with an immediate assault by Mr. McAlpin. Our officers have a right to defend themselves against attack. After a significant altercation, our officers were able to take Mr. McAlpine into custody, but not before suffering significant injuries of their own.
In addition, three department supervisors were investigated and exonerated for failing to supervise in connection with this same incident. Either misconduct occurred or it didn’t. In this case, the department needed scapegoats, and they chose the officers as such.
We support accountability when there is actual wrongdoing, but disciplining officers solely because it aligns with public opinion, rather than fact, is wrong and morally corrupt. Our officers deserve better than the current leadership at Phoenix PD. Interim Chief Sullivan’s inability to defend his officers is shameful and pathetic. We stand behind our officers and thank the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department for their service to our community."
What's next:
"The due process rights of the officers include the right to appeal the discipline to the Civil Service Board. The administrative investigations will be available publicly at the conclusion of the process," the police department said.