New reports indicate two female and five male police employees were meeting each other on part of the night shift for extramarital sex in various locations, including a police facility.
Those reports indicate further that the covers were pulled when one civilian said to be involved in one such tryst notified police investigators, and two other civilians who said they saw some of the sex acts also tipped police.
The Arizona Republic says that in all but one instance did the activities involve the two women and five men, all of whom are married. They're five patrol officers, one police recruit, and a civilian crime scene technician, all suspended with pay.
They allegedly met for sex in such locations as behind a school, in one police facility, and in a church parking lot, at least, authorities told the Republic.
Their identities have not yet been released, though the attorney for one of the accused officers, bicycle patrol officer Steven York, told the Republic the charges against his client are not true. David Cantor says the four-year veteran had sexual relations with a female officer a few times in February but they occurred in a private home when not working.
The seven personnel face a disciplinary review hearing with the Mesa Police Department next Tuesday, with a final evaluation by police chief Jan Strauss. The Republic says the department will most likely take "a hard look" at several supervisors as well, trying to learn whether they kept a close enough eye on their subordinates and whether "policies need to be tightened".
Strauss tells the Republic the probe will be thorough and any of the officers found guilty of any infractions will "be dealt swift and serious" punishment. "It all goes against the grain of everything we stand for. These people knew better," she says.
And she warns against tainting the entire 1,100-member police force for the actions of seven. "Yes, they give us a black eye when they screw up," she says. "But we're looking here at disciplinary proceedings, not criminal allegations."
Mesa city officials are mostly not commenting until more is known about the scandal, the Republic says.
