3 fired TPD workers weren’t patrons of brothel, DPS says

The lengthy probe into the operation of two illegal massage parlors and whether Tucson police employees were customers resulted in two separate but related investigations spanning several months.

Tucson police conducted an administrative internal investigation focused on whether employees’ conduct violated department policy and guidelines.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Department of Public Safety — at the Tucson Police Department’s request — looked into possible criminal actions by police employees.

Both of the investigations are largely complete, with the results of the internal investigation released Tuesday by police who at the same time announced that five employees have been terminated. The five fired employees have begun the process of appealing their dismissals, their attorney said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the DPS criminal probe — which targeted as many as nine police employees — has been sent to the Pima County Attorney’s Office for review of possible charges.

Prosecutors have not announced whether charges will be filed against any of the Tucson police employees who were investigated by DPS.

Officers Martin Walker, Nathaniel Luttrell and crime-scene technician Enrique Wilkins were fired after Tucson police internal affairs determined they committed violations “that have a critical adverse impact on the professional image of the department,” TPD said.

Because the employees can appeal their dismissals, Tucson police did not release Tuesday the investigative reports on the three detailing what the internal affairs investigation found. Those reports won’t be made public until the appeals process has been completed, the department said.

But a report by DPS that the Star obtained last week states the agency found no evidence indicating Walker, Luttrell or Wilkins had ever been in contact with the massage parlors although their phone numbers were found in contacts of massage parlor operators or employees.

In addition to Walker, Luttrell and Wilkins, officers Oscar Ramos and Daniel Santa-Cruz were fired Tuesday and two officers who had previously resigned — Jesus Maldonado and Sgt. Michael McGuire — had their job status changed to “terminated” — bringing to seven the total number of terminations.

Police investigative reports were released on Maldonado and McGuire that detailed the officers’ involvement with the massage parlors.

The internal affairs investigation began in January when detectives discovered the possible involvement of police employees with the two illegal massage parlors, known as “Daisy’s Delights” and “By Spanish.”

Because of a rule called the Garrity warning, the statements made by the TPD employees in the internal affairs investigation cannot be used against them criminally. The rule is intended to protect employees of public agencies from incriminating themselves during investigations conducted by their employers. All nine of the police employees declined to be interviewed by DPS.

Maria Davila, Maldonado’s attorney, said previously that forwarding names to the Pima County Attorney’s Office was a formality and she didn’t expect her client to be charged with a crime.

Two other officers investigated by internal affairs were sent notices last week that the allegations against them were unfounded.

However, the DPS investigation found that one of them was in frequent contact with employees and operators of the massage parlors. It’s unclear if DPS has recommended that charges be brought against him.

In an executive review of the internal investigation of the officer, Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor said he didn’t completely believe the officer’s statements but didn’t have enough evidence to prove he was lying.

The same officer sought a temporary restraining order June 2 to keep Tucson police from subjecting him and six unnamed officers to polygraph tests in connection with the prostitution investigation. They dropped the case the next day.

Attorney Mike Storie, who represented the group, said his clients withdrew the suit because they worked out their issues with the department.