Maricopa Police Department has uncovered possible investigative failures in more than three dozen criminal cases dating back over a decade, prompting a sweeping internal review and an independent investigation by state authorities, Chief of Police Mark Goodman announced this afternoon.

The revelations came during a department-wide audit of so-called “legacy” cases, older incidents that include property theft and serious offenses, including sex crimes. According to Goodman, the review found “troubling deficiencies,” including a number of cases closed without clear evidence that any investigation was ever conducted.

“This is unacceptable and does not reflect the high-quality police department that serves our community,” Goodman said. “We take this very seriously and are taking swift action to address the issue.” 

In response, the department has referred at least 40 cases to the Arizona Department of Public Safety for an independent internal affairs investigation. DPS has accepted the referral and is now actively reviewing the matter, according to Goodman. 

The scope of the issues uncovered remains unclear, but Goodman emphasized that some of the cases involve serious allegations that may not have received adequate follow-up. The mention of sex cases could be related to untested rape kits, an invasive test that often falls through the cracks, creating a long backlog. 

“Every case — and every person behind that case — deserves a thorough and fair investigation,” Goodman said. “We are committed to doing right by the victims.” 

The internal review was initiated as part of an ongoing effort by Goodman’s administration to boost transparency and accountability in the department. In addition to the state-led probe, MPD has reopened a number of affected cases and is implementing new oversight measures to prevent similar failures in the future. 

Those steps include enhancing the investigative review process, increasing leadership collaboration and requiring additional supervisory signoffs before any case is closed. Goodman also indicated that further internal reforms could be introduced depending on the outcome of the DPS investigation.

The department is encouraging any residents with concerns about older cases to contact Lt. Kathleen Elliott by phone at 520-316-6864 or via email at [email protected].

Goodman today reaffirmed the department’s commitment to professional standards, transparency and the trust of the community. 

“We thank the Maricopa community for its continued support as we work to uphold the standards of professionalism and integrity that you expect from us,” he said. 

The DPS investigation is ongoing, and no timeline has been given for when its findings will be made public. 

While the full scope of the deficiencies has not yet been determined, Goodman pledged to share the findings of the DPS investigation with the public once it is completed. 

“We believe transparency is essential to earning and maintaining your trust,” said Goodman.  

InMaricopa reached out to AZDPS for more details on which cases were included in this. The state police declined comment.

“Per policy, we never comment on ongoing investigations,” said spokesman Bart Graves.