The council voted 4-1 for termination. Pima Mayor Russell Woods cast the lone dissenting vote.
Whitmire had been on paid administrative leave for about three months prior to the decision. During his leave, Whitmire was investigated by the Department of Public Safety for three separate allegations of misconduct with 10 different violations, according to Pima Police Chief Dianne Cauthen. She said the allegations stemmed from nonfeasance and malfeasance of duty, including not documenting the chain of custody while collecting blood evidence and not turning in orders of protection reports in a timely manner.
Some of the other violations listed in the DPS report include insubordination, lying to supervisors and lying to administrative interviewers, according to Cauthen.
"There's some serious charges in there," she said.
The Courier has not reviewed the DPS report because it is yet to become public record. After Cauthen files her final disposition addendum to the report with the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, the report will become public record and the Courier will request a copy.
Cauthen said she substantiated the DPS investigation's findings and recommended termination based on those findings. She said the letter recommending termination she gave the council will also be given to AZPOST. It is entirely up to AZPOST to decide whether to suspend or terminate Whitmire's officer certification. The certification is necessary to be eligible for most law enforcement positions.
The council decided to remove Whitmire because he had not met the Police Department's standards while on his probationary period. Whitmire was on a new-hire yearlong probationary period because he had previously left his position for another job and then was rehired. The probation period was set to end in January 2010. Whitmire had served on the Pima Police Department for about 13 years, including time as the department's chief of police.
Councilor Sherri Rozzell said she felt the council would be undermining Cauthen's authority as Pima's Police chief if they did not terminate Whitmire, especially because he was still on his probation period. Vice Mayor George Lemen agreed with Rozzell and made a motion to terminate him for "not living up to the probation."
Mayor Woods said he voted against termination because he believes Whitmire has been a good officer for the town during his 13-year tenure and that everybody makes mistakes.
Whitmire told the Courier the allegations against him are unfounded, and the council used the probation clause as an excuse to terminate him. He said he couldn't disprove all of the allegations because most of them had to do with County Dispatch records that he has no control over.
"I more or less think it was nothing but a witch hunt. . ." Whitmire said. "The town of Pima (has) some issues, some serious issues. And eventually, it will come back to bite them in the butt."
Pima recently hired a new officer, Jon Hurston, but that was to replace former officer Daniel Rios who resigned June 22 after committing an off-duty outburst in Clifton. Hurston is a native of Safford who spent three years with the Surprise Police Department.
Cauthen said her department has three full-time officers and two reserve officers. She told the Courier that Pima will be advertising for a fourth full-time officer in the near future.



Comments
88 comment(s)Mark S. wrote on Nov 20, 2009 2:48 PM:
To Pretty Sad wrote on Nov 20, 2009 2:39 PM:
R. McBride wrote on Nov 20, 2009 9:22 AM:
However, don't be surprised if people are defensive around you. You realize that you needlessly destroyed someone’s career, for completely selfish reasons. The fact that Pima officers are willing to accept low wages doesn’t substitute for philanthropy. Your implication of such is merely pretense.
As far as catching illegals, I commend the rancher for a job well done, while the Pima911 team was busy in an impromptu committee meeting. "
Pima mom wrote on Nov 20, 2009 8:45 AM:
Also, after his history, why is it that the Town of Pima is allowing Sgt. Shupe to have ride-alongs in his patrol car? "
Dear John Cougar wrote on Nov 20, 2009 8:40 AM:
Pretty sad cont. wrote on Nov 20, 2009 6:55 AM:
Pretty sad wrote on Nov 20, 2009 6:52 AM:
John Cougar wrote on Nov 20, 2009 12:09 AM:
I for one would like to hear the ditty about Jack and Dianne. But perhaps you could change the lyrics to Shupe and Diane. And don't forget, their outside the "Taylor Freeze" not the "Tastee Freeze"!
T. McBride
And if you're about to rock....I salute you! "
To McFly wrote on Nov 19, 2009 11:59 PM:
to point to ponder wrote on Nov 19, 2009 2:18 PM:
R. McBride wrote on Nov 19, 2009 1:38 PM:
R. McBride wrote on Nov 19, 2009 1:27 PM:
point to ponder wrote on Nov 19, 2009 11:44 AM:
to R McBride wrote on Nov 19, 2009 11:40 AM:
ROCKY wrote on Nov 18, 2009 6:26 PM:
Moose Head back to be Chief#301.
Of course R.Norton would have to be Mayor. "
Check this out wrote on Nov 18, 2009 12:56 PM:
R. McBride wrote on Nov 18, 2009 11:46 AM:
R. McBride wrote on Nov 18, 2009 11:13 AM:
It is apparent that blissful ignorance is uninterrupted by contradiction. "
R. McBride wrote on Nov 18, 2009 11:00 AM:
It is apparent that blissful ignorance is uninterrupted by contradiction. "
R. McBride wrote on Nov 18, 2009 10:34 AM:
Way to wax poetic Shawn. I especially liked the limerick about the wire. It took me back to the rote thought patterns of the third grade. Maybe I’ll be inspired to write ‘a little ditty about Jack and Dianne’. "
Tassy wrote on Nov 17, 2009 9:09 PM:
to stone cold truth wrote on Nov 16, 2009 4:52 PM:
Captain America wrote on Nov 15, 2009 7:52 AM:
stone cold truth wrote on Nov 14, 2009 5:35 PM:
Shawn wrote on Nov 13, 2009 8:47 PM:
Two Cops on a wire wrote on Nov 13, 2009 3:58 PM:
R. McBride wrote on Nov 13, 2009 1:11 PM:
Robbie "
Tracy McBride wrote on Nov 13, 2009 10:09 AM:
Tracy "
Terry S. wrote on Nov 12, 2009 4:03 PM:
Watch your words...they become actions.
Watch your actions...they become habits.
Watch your habits....they become character.
Watch your character....for it becomes...your destiny. "
Tracy McBride wrote on Nov 12, 2009 3:44 PM:
Tracy "
McFly wrote on Nov 12, 2009 12:46 PM:
R. McBride wrote on Nov 12, 2009 12:28 PM:
If you’re going to call Tracy slow, then you should at least use proper grammar. ‘You are’ contracts to ‘you’re’. It does not contract to ‘your’ which is possessive.
Also, you admit that Cauthen manipulated policy to fit the allegations. …Kool-Aid anyone?
I’ll say it again since you obviously don’t understand simple logic. Neutrality is necessary, it is not sufficient. Go ahead and Google ‘necessary and sufficient conditions’ for further enlightenment. "
McFly wrote on Nov 12, 2009 11:40 AM:
To McFly wrote on Nov 12, 2009 11:28 AM:
to mcfly wrote on Nov 12, 2009 10:59 AM:
ed from thatcher pd. Changing or adjusting policy to cater
to a specific applicant is a very poor decision. If the chief
and council can't follow their most basic of rules which are
in place for a reason then how can they be trusted with
Issues. "
McFly wrote on Nov 12, 2009 9:35 AM:
Tracy McBride wrote on Nov 12, 2009 12:34 AM:
to mike wrote on Nov 11, 2009 5:25 PM:
Public wrote on Nov 11, 2009 1:02 PM:
R. McBride wrote on Nov 11, 2009 1:01 PM:
To R. McBride wrote on Nov 11, 2009 12:35 PM:
HUH wrote on Nov 11, 2009 12:34 PM:
Vent wrote on Nov 11, 2009 12:31 PM:
We all understand that the reason why your upset and bashing the Pima police Dept is because your buddy FINALLY got caught. Its ok. You can vent your frustrations. Thats what this blog is for. The more you blog the less people are going to listen to you,. Your making yourself look just as guilty as your friend "
Russ wrote on Nov 11, 2009 9:24 AM:
R. McBride wrote on Nov 11, 2009 8:53 AM:
By the way, it is Doctor McPRIDE! "
To Sandra wrote on Nov 10, 2009 9:52 PM:
I have no dealings with or want any dealing with the Town of Pima, Keith Whitmire or Tracey Mcbide. Please leave me out of this post or situation. Like I said I dont want nor have ANY dealings with these people.
Mike Kieffer "
Robbie says wrote on Nov 10, 2009 7:28 PM:
McBurp wrote on Nov 10, 2009 6:53 PM:
Whitmire spent ALL of his time sitting under a tree, or in his store (while on duty) talking and doing other unsavory things. Do you want officers that are doing their job, or one that does nothing but talk (and everything he says are lies) getting paid money to do 'nothing'. How pathetic can you all be. Glad you are only a small part of Pima, because 'talking to people' never protected them from anything. "
WHATEVER wrote on Nov 10, 2009 6:48 PM:
Mr. Watchful wrote on Nov 10, 2009 5:55 PM:
Sandra wrote on Nov 10, 2009 4:40 PM:
McFly wrote on Nov 10, 2009 2:58 PM:
To duh ya wrote on Nov 10, 2009 12:46 PM:
Stand Down wrote on Nov 10, 2009 12:22 PM:
duh ya wrote on Nov 10, 2009 12:09 PM:
uh ok wrote on Nov 9, 2009 10:11 PM:
McPRIDE wrote on Nov 9, 2009 10:08 PM:
Amazing wrote on Nov 9, 2009 5:03 PM:
Ya wrote on Nov 9, 2009 4:30 PM:
Phart Knocker wrote on Nov 9, 2009 2:18 PM:
gus wrote on Nov 9, 2009 2:15 PM:
Robbie McBride wrote on Nov 9, 2009 12:51 PM:
Although I am unaware of any relationship with Keith, I guess I must be a family member since I support him. Also, note that I am unafraid to place a name with my opinion.
Robbie "
to wow wrote on Nov 9, 2009 11:31 AM:
jOKE wrote on Nov 9, 2009 9:13 AM:
Born in Pima wrote on Nov 8, 2009 8:07 PM:
pima wrote on Nov 8, 2009 7:53 PM:
Wow wrote on Nov 8, 2009 4:38 PM:
what wrote on Nov 8, 2009 10:44 AM:
Johnson wrote on Nov 8, 2009 10:38 AM:
SmallTownGirl wrote on Nov 8, 2009 10:31 AM:
Pima Fan wrote on Nov 7, 2009 9:20 PM:
aquestupee wrote on Nov 7, 2009 11:26 AM:
RoseMary wrote on Nov 7, 2009 3:28 AM:
Disappointed wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:34 PM:
Good Job. "
Pima Fan wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:14 PM:
private, then came back with the Mayor frighteningly angry, and the others terrified and speechless. The Mayor was furious, and thanks to the courage of Councilor Rozzell and Vice-Mayor Lemen the other two joined in on the brave, proper vote. "
Donna Griffith wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:13 PM:
stone cold truth wrote on Nov 6, 2009 7:00 PM:
Ya wrote on Nov 6, 2009 6:37 PM:
Kelly wrote on Nov 6, 2009 1:54 PM:
Mike wrote on Nov 6, 2009 11:44 AM:
Friendly Neighbor wrote on Nov 6, 2009 11:38 AM:
Public wrote on Nov 6, 2009 11:34 AM:
Its about time wrote on Nov 6, 2009 11:32 AM:
HA wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:24 AM:
Me wrote on Nov 6, 2009 7:49 AM:
WOW, if he is the best officer Pima has to offer, the Town of Pima is really in trouble. "
Smith wrote on Nov 5, 2009 11:14 PM:
Frank wrote on Nov 5, 2009 11:10 PM:
Get out while you can and don't complain to the Chief or Manger about Shupe. They will run to the town gossipers for a quick report and then terminate you too. Run Hurston Run! "
concerned citizen wrote on Nov 5, 2009 10:43 PM: