Tucson officer was suspended for shoving UA student

Sgt. Joel Mann was suspended without pay for 80 hours, the department confirmed Friday. Hundreds of pages of documents in the internal review of the incident were released Friday.

The suspension was for two separate incidents, both occurring after the University of Arizona men’s basketball team’s loss in the tournament.

Mann, a 19-year veteran of the force, served his suspension in mid-August after his appeal was denied, according to the documents. Sgt. Pete Dugan, an agency spokesman, confirmed Mann is back on active duty.

Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor said in July that he anticipated disciplining the officer.

On Aug. 11, Mann’s notice of discipline was issued, allowing him seven days to file an appeal, which he did.

In September, Mann notified the department that he intended to file a grievance, saying that the punishment was too severe. He submitted it in December, and it was rejected.

He filed another grievance on Jan. 12, asking that the decision again be re-evaluated. On Jan. 20, the department rejected the second grievance.

“The serious nature of your actions, especially in regard to any lack of perceived or actual threat justifies the enhanced sanctions,” according to the department’s response to Mann.

Mann’s attorney, Michael Storie, said winning a departmental appeal is difficult, but was the only process afforded to Mann under the punishment guidelines. “Why would anyone think that Sgt. Mann would get fair consideration from those who bungled the planning of this tactical response to this event?” asked Storie.

No criminal charges were pursued against Mann. County prosecutors said last year that while Mann was “overzealous,” his actions did not rise to a level that showed criminal intent.

Storie said the county prosecutors’ findings were based on a criminal investigation conducted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which concluded Mann “did nothing wrong.”

“Sgt. Mann’s response was not overzealous,” Storie said. “In choosing not to bring charges against Sgt. Mann, the county prosecutors determined that his actions were justified, because if not, he would be charged with assault,” said Storie.

In the first incident, Mann pushed then-UA student Christina Gardilcic over a bench. The shove also was captured on a helmet camera Mann wore.

Gardilcic has filed a $375,000 claim against the city.

Stephen Weeks, Gardilcic’s attorney, said he also intends to file a lawsuit against the police department.

The second incident occurred during the same night, when Mann pushed a young woman out of a chair.

Mami Morita also filed a complaint against Mann.