West Valley View - North 03-04-2020

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March 4, 2020

Geier says ‘coup’ led to firing BY TOM SCANLON

West Valley View Managing Editor

YOUTH ......... 31 County sends COVID-19 letter to parents

SPORTS ........ 23 Millennium basketball teams make finals

9 DAYS ......... 26 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar

OPINION ...............16 BUSINESS.............. 19 SPORTS ..................21 NEIGHBORHOOD...25 FEATURES ..............27 YOUTH ..................31 OBITUARIES ...........34 CLASSIFIEDS ..........35 NORTH

Claiming a “coup,” Jerry Geier is not going down without a fight. Geier, Goodyear’s police chief since 2012, is appealing his Dec. 28 termination. The city of Goodyear has not released the reason he was fired, but details began emerging during an appeal hearing Monday, Feb. 24. The hearing was scheduled to continue Tuesday, March 3. The first day of the hearing showed a police department that was apparently quite dysfunctional. In addition to conspiracy allegations, the first day of the hearing discussed one Goodyear Police officer quitting after an off-duty hit and run, and other Goodyear officers racing around Phoenix in search of an undercover FBI agent — the wife of a police leader. Geier’s actions in both cases were appropriate and his answers to investigators honest, said Steve Serbalik, Geier’s attor-

Jerry Geier, left, is appealing his firing from the Goodyear Police Department chief position he held for seven years. An investigation into Deputy Chief Justin Hughes, right, has been completed, but the city will not release the results until Hughes finishes using his personal leave. (West Valley View file photos)

ney. “Chief Geier’s rights were violated,” Serbalik told the West Valley View In his opening statement, Serbalik alleged Goodyear Deputy Chief Justin

Hughes and Goodyear Police Officers Association President Marcus Patterson conspired to file false allegations against

Chief...continued on page 2

Mask shortage from Goodyear to Peoria BY TOM SCANLON

West Valley View Managing Editor

Though health officials insist most don’t need them, masks are flying off shelves. Up and down the West Valley, it is almost impossible to buy the kind of masks seen in China and other parts of the world

hit by COVID-19. “There are no masks in a 10-mile radius,” said one drug store worker, who asked not to be identified. “We sell out in one day after we get them because everyone is scared of the new virus.” The West Valley View contacted

Walmart, CVS and Walgreens stores in Goodyear, Glendale and Peoria. None had masks in stock. In the first aid sections, there are wide gaps of empty shelving where the masks

Mask...continued on page 2

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