PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) - Three former Assistant Chiefs are suing Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams, Executive Assistant Michael Kurtenbach, Edward Zuercher, and the City of Phoenix for what they say were “false claims” made against them in August 2021.
Phoenix Police Commanders John Collins, Lawrence Hein, and Gabriel Lopez were all promoted by Chief Williams to Assistant Chiefs. Collins was promoted in 2017, Lopez in 2019, and Hein in 2020. The three are claiming that they were later demoted “without notice” on August 12, 2021, on “false claims that they failed to advise Chief Williams and Kurtenbach of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office’s decision to dismiss all charges against a group of protestors who were arrested on Oct. 17, 2020. Phoenix police officers monitoring protests that night believed the group was trying to block a light-rail train. Police say some of the protestors in the group were carrying weapons like an AR-15, a pistol, a Taser, a metal club, a brick, a knife, and smoke bombs. According to court documents, when the group ignored police commands to clear the street, a police Lieutenant at the scene ordered their arrest.
After the protestors’ arrest, Deputy County Attorney April Sponsel and veteran detective Karl Martin met with several law enforcement officials, including Collins, Hein, and Lopez, on Oct. 23, 2020, to discuss the possibility of charging the protestors with “assisting a criminal street gang.” After the meeting, Collins and Lopez claim...
“When companies use kickbacks to influence prescribing, they erode trust in healthcare providers,” said special agent Helsing. Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A. Inc has agreed to $13,670,921 amid alle...