The Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board has voted to revoke the certification of a former Greenlee County deputy.

The board voted 9-1 to revoke Michael Andazola’s certification as an Arizona law enforcement officer at an AZPOST Board meeting in Casa Grande on Wednesday, June 17. Andazola was present as was Greenlee County Sheriff Steve Tucker.

Andazola will be sent a formal letter of the board’s decision and will have 35 days to file an appeal. The former deputy entered a consent agreement with AZPOST that contains “facts that are not arguable,” AZ-POST’s Ted Brandon said.

AZPOST is the state agency that oversees Arizona law officers’ training and adherence to professional and ethical standards.

Brandon said in a telephone interview with The Copper Era that the most likely grounds for an appeal by Andazola would have to involve procedural error on the part of AZPOST. He said he did not think that is likely.

Andazola, 35, was put on administrative leave in January 2008 when allegations surfaced that he sent inappropriate text messages to a 17-year-old Morenci girl. In one incident he stopped the girl in what was a feigned traffic stop and kept her out until 3:00 in the morning talking to her in the Morenci Plaza parking lot.

Andazola sent the girl text messages with heavy sexual overtones and expressing a strong personal interest in her. The girl also said he sent her at least one graphic picture involving nudity via a cell phone.

After his suspension, Andazola, through an attorney, sent Greenlee County Attorney Derek Rapier and Sheriff Steve Tucker an offer to resign if no criminal charges were pursued and his law enforcement certification was not challenged. County officials declined the offer. He was subsequently fired.

Andazola’s pursuit of the teenage girl was not immediately brought to Tucker’s attention by her parents.

Tucker said the parents told him they were hesitant about complaining because Andazola had been involved in the arrest of the girl’s father in a domestic issue and they feared a complaint would be seen only as an act of retribution against Andazola.

Information about Andazola’s actions involving the girl was forwarded to the Arizona Department of Public Safety for investigation. At Rapier’s request, results were then forwarded to the Graham County Attorney’s Office for review and to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.

After several months during which no action was taken by the Graham attorney, AZPOST stepped in and conducted its own investigation into Andazola’s alleged misconduct.

Formal criminal charges are not required for an officer to have his or her certification revoked by AZPOST. Proof of misconduct can be enough for revocation.

Andazola’s father, Frank “Beaver” Andazola, a former sheriff’s dispatcher and jailer, had proclaimed his son’s innocence and ran against Tucker in the 2008 Democratic Party primary.

In his campaign Andazola told several people his son was either set up or being singled out by Tucker.

The sheriff refused to comment on the allegations at the time, saying he was keeping his campaign clean and would not be drawn into a debate over the issue. He would only say, “Let the facts speak for themselves.” He also declined comment on the June 17 AZPOST action.

Tucker cruised past Andazola and another opponent in the primary election but only managed a narrow victory in the general election, where he was challenged by a former colleague.

Several Tucker supporters said they believe Frank Andazola’s assertions played a role in the election’s being as close as it was.