THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
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This Week
NEWS .............. 4 Litchfield Park councilman Peter Mahoney resigns
SPORTS ........ 19 Odyssey volleyball is No. 1
9 DAYS ......... 20 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar
OPINION .......................11 BUSINESS..................... 15 SPORTS ..........................18 FEATURES .....................21 YOUTH ...........................29 OBITUARIES .................33 CLASSIFIEDS................34 SOUTH
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The Voice of the West Valley for 34 years
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October 16, 2019
Police chief, deputy placed on leave BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Associate Editor
Goodyear’s top cops were placed on leave “due to allegations of impropriety.” The Goodyear Police Department was rocked with its police chief, deputy police chief, an officer and an administrative person all placed on administrative leave last week. The city did not make a formal announcement but responded to some questions. “Today (Oct. 7), Chief Jerry Geier and Deputy Chief Justin Hughes were placed on paid administrative leave due to recent allegations of impropriety,” spokeswoman Tammy Vo wrote in an email. “In addition, two other department employees were also recently placed on leave due to additional allegations of wrongdoing. “Placing these employees on leave is important in order to provide the neutral environment and support needed while outside counsel reviews the situation. The city of Goodyear values the public’s trust and takes these types of accusations seriously and is committed to conducting a thorough review.” Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord did not reply to questions regarding her confidence in the Goodyear Police Department.
The Goodyear Police Department is without its top leaders, with Chief Jerry Geier (left) and Deputy Chief Justin Hughes (right) placed on administrative leave. (Photos courtesy the city of Goodyear.)
The city did not say which law enforcement agency is handling the investigation. “Outside counsel is handling the review,” Vo wrote. “Our other deputy chief is overseeing the department for the time being, and the other two employees involved are an officer and a staff member in administrative support.” According to Vo, Geier was hired Jan. 9,
2012. His annual salary is $187,735. Hughes was hired April 3, 2006. His salary is $102,177. Officer Kyle Cluff, hired five years ago, was also placed on administrative leave. Susan Petty, the fourth employee placed on leave, was listed by the city as the ad-
Leave...continued on page 2
School bond and district override on November ballot BY TOM SCANLON
West Valley View Associate Editor
Girl Scouts of the United States of America sell cookies, nonprofit agencies hold fundraisers. Schools ask voters for funding. West Valley voters will decide on more than a quarter billion in funding. The Avondale Elementary and Littleton Elementary school districts are asking for
overrides. The Buckeye Elementary, Saddle Mountain Unified, Tolleson Union High School and the Agua Fria Union High School districts seek voter approval for bonds. The West Valley is far from alone. Voters in nearly half the school districts in Maricopa County will receive ballots asking them to decide on school funding. “School districts are authorized to issue negotiable bonds for the purpose of ac-
quiring a project or projects,” explained Maricopa County School Superintendent. Steve Watson. Funds are raised by tax increases on properties within the district. Budget overrides, according to Watson, “occur when voters in a school district adopt a budget in excess of their revenue control limit.” (For more, see Watson’s
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