Camp Verde Town Manager Russ Martin plans to fire Camp Verde Marshal Nancy Gardner effective Monday, March 12.
The Town Manager’s Office released a statement late Wednesday, March 7, in which Martin wrote he planed to terminate her employment because “As Town Manager it is my responsibility to maintain a professional culture of service to the Town residents and to this end I felt it was appropriate to take such action.”
The town’s personnel policy allows for an immediate appeal and potentially an appeal to a hearing officer which may prolong the process beyond March 12.
Martin placed Camp Verde Marshal Nancy Gardner on administrative leave Monday, Oct. 23. According to Martin, in Camp Verde there are two types of administrative leave: Suspension for actions taken and suspension due to pending investigation.
“[The latter] is the case here,” Martin said in October, adding that the town would be investigating the reasons for Gardner’s forced leave to “clear the air” and to avoid the perception that the town’s top law enforcement official was not receiving “special privileges.”
Martin placed Gardner on leave “pending review and investigation of information that was brought to me the previous week concerning her behavior during her time as marshal.”
Martin turned the investigation over to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which formally initiated the investigation on Oct. 27.
During that visit and a subsequent visit on Oct. 30, DPS “decided to move forward with a criminal investigation,” Martin stated in the release. “Following that criminal investigation, they continued with the administrative investigation.”
DPS concluded the investigation on Monday, March 5, after conducting interviews with Camp Verde Marshal’s Office staff.
“Based on the facts outlined in the investigation report, I have determined that she is no longer fit to hold the position of Camp Verde Marshal,” Martin stated. “During the course of the investigation it was determined that she created and pursued a personal policy of intimidation and fear amongst her subordinates in an attempt to maintain her position.”
“As Town Marshal she:
- “exerted improper influence in a Departmental Incident Report”
- “appeared untruthful to her knowledge and misrepresentation of a candidate to AZPOST,” the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board
- “[paid] personnel in violation of our personnel policy”
- “created the appearance of the misuse of public funds”
- “clearly created an environment where favoritism lead to an environment not conducive to the esprit de corps and unity necessary for a law enforcement organization to operate at the level our citizens expect and deserve”
Despite the fact “she was well-respected amongst her peers,” Martin wrote, “Unfortunately, her actions in some areas are unacceptable and warrant action to ensure proper professional culture at the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office.”
Cmdr Brian Armstrong will continue to serve as interim marshal.
For a full, in-depth story regarding the DPS investigation and its findings, see the Wednesday, March 14, edtion of The Camp Verde Journal.
