West Valley View - South 12 - 25 - 2019

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THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON

New Year’s Eve events

Top 19 of 2019 PAGE

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westvalleyview.com

INSIDE

This Week

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Goodyear fires police chief West Valley View Managing Editor

‘Armed and dangerous’ suspect eludes police

SPORTS ........ 18 Agua Fria star sprinter to run at Weber State

9 DAYS ......... 20 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar

OPINION .......................14 BUSINESS..................... 17 SPORTS ..........................18 FEATURES .....................22 YOUTH ...........................28 OBITUARIES .................31 CLASSIFIEDS................32 SOUTH

December 25, 2019

The Voice of the West Valley for 34 years

BY TOM SCANLON

NEWS .............. 2

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Ending nearly three months of secrecy, Goodyear fired its police chief Friday, Dec. 20.. Mystery remains, however, as the city did not provide any details on the termination of Jerry Geier. He is appealing his firing. The city placed Geier on administrative leave Oct. 7, “following allegations of misconduct.” Geier, hired as Goodyear’s police chief Jan. 9, 2012, continued to be paid during his suspension. His annual salary was $187,735. “Today, Jerry Geier was terminated from employment with the city of Goodyear and his role as police chief,” said a Dec. 20 email from Tammy Vo, a Goodyear spokeswoman. Vo said, shortly after Geier was placed on administrative leave, “external inves-

tigators began a very thorough review which recently concluded. “Based on those findings, it was determined Geier violated administrative policies. Those violations are non-criminal and non-financial in nature.” Santiago Rodriguez, acting chief since Oct. 7, will continue in an interim role. Vo said she could not provide details, as Geier filed an appeal to the firing. “Therefore, any further details about the original allegations, the investigation, or the findings will not be available until the appeals process has concluded pursuant to the Peace Officers Bill of Rights,” Vo said. “It protects information about disciplinary investigations of police officers from being disclosed until the process has concluded.”

Chief...continued on page 2

Goodyear terminated former Police Chief Jerry Geier, without providing details of the firing. (Photo courtesy city of Goodyear)

Lesko takes stand on Capitol Hill BY TOM SCANLON

West Valley View Managing Editor

Wednesday, Dec. 18, will go down in history as Impeachment Day. It was also Debbie Lesko’s breakout day. In 4 minutes on the U.S. House of Representatives floor, the Republican congresswoman from District 8 went from unknown-freshman to trending-like-crazy. A few hours after her speech accusing Democrats of “tearing America apart” went viral, she told the West Valley View she prepared for her moment by praying. “I asked God to give me the right words

and the right way to say it,” Lesko said. “Madam Speaker, this is a sad day. I believe Democrats are tearing this country apart. They’re tearing families apart,” Lesko said on the House floor. Her impassioned defense of President Donald Trump and attack on Democrats leading an impeachment charge had social

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Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-District 8) was vocal in her defense of Donald Trump during the impeachment process. (Photo courtesy NBC News)

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