Alleged bullying victim withdraws complaint against Carroll

Joseph Cuffari rescinded his bullying allegation against Ray Carroll, Miller’s fellow Republican on the board, in a letter to Human Resources Director Allyn Bulzomi.

“I was told to file the claim as a directive from my former employer and I now wish to fully excuse myself from my past employment,” Cuffari wrote.

Cuffari was given a pay raise shortly after initiating the complaint, but then was later terminated by Miller and is now employed with another county department.

When contacted by the Arizona Daily Star, Cuffari confirmed that he wrote the letter to human resources withdrawing the complaint and reaffirmed his written statement, but declined to comment further.

“Joe is being completely dishonest, I suspect in an effort to try and redeem himself with Ray Carroll,” Miller said. “I never directed him to make those statements. I fully deny that.”

Miller filed a complaint against Carroll with human resources in April after she said several staffers shared stories of mistreatment.

“On this particular day, Mr. Cuffari and Max came in and told me Ray cornered them in elevator and they both came in visibly shaken,” Miller said.

Max Daffron is another District 1 staffer who still works in the the office.

In her complaint to human resources, Miller said she witnessed Carroll yelling at two staff members on April 1, 2014.

The department interviewed several employees in Miller’s office, but ultimately found Carroll committed no wrongdoing.

In the report, Cuffari recounts an incident where he said Carroll berated him for making a comment about Carroll’s daughter’s foot tattoo.

Cuffari said Caroll’s behavior was “aggressive,” “dominating” and “forceful.”

Miller confirmed she increased Cuffari’s pay in April, a few days before he was interviewed by human resources about the complaint, but said the raise had nothing to do with the investigation.

“There were some issues in my office and he was dishonest on some items,” Miller said. “ I told him he needed to re-earn my trust. I felt he was a good employee and I was going to give him a raise.”

Cuffari was fired from Miller’s office on August 26. She declined to discuss his termination.

At the request of County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry, Cuffari was placed on administrative leave with pay for six days before being hired by the Regional Flood Control District.

Huckelberry said that is standard practice for someone who was formerly an employee of a different county department.

“If it doesn’t work out, we will find a position and place them in that,” Huckelberry said.

Carroll said Cuffari’s decision to rescind his complaint is further proof that he committed no wrongdoing.

“I said from the beginning that I was innocent of any charge of bullying or intimidation,” Carroll said. “I continued to proclaim my innocence. Now I’m vindicated.”