After witnessing a motorcycle officer several times drive recklessly in a charter school parking lot while nabbing traffic-law scofflaws, an Apache Junction man experienced it firsthand, decided enough was enough, and filed formal complaints with the police and mayor’s office.
Someone could be hit in the parking lot at Imagine Prep Superstition, 1843 W. 16th Ave., when the officer drives in to stop drivers, John Clancy said in a phone interview.
“He’s flying in there. Kids play, kids throw footballs, they run in-between cars and stuff. It’s only going to take once,” Clancy said. “Me personally, I’ve witnessed I think three times in the parking lot and then my incident where he pulled me over,” he said.
“I just feel that I need to stand up at least for the kids at that school because so many people won’t because they are either afraid of law enforcement, they’re afraid of repercussions, they just don’t have the time or for whatever reason. So, that ain’t me,” Clancy said.
He was cited by Apache Junction police Officer Darrin Hatch about 8 a.m. May 8 in the parking lot at Imagine Prep Superstition on his way to drop off his son at the charter school.
Clancy filed a handwritten complaint at 9:45 a.m. that day concerning Hatch, badge No. 271, according to a photo he took of the form titled “Apache Junction Police Department complaint on police department employee.”
It details Clancy’s take on the officer’s actions in stopping vehicles in the school parking lot and the officer’s manner when speaking to him.
“Officer Hatch is ... reckless with no regard to children’s safety... He could or will very soon hurt or kill a student in this parking lot,” Clancy wrote. “... (N)o protect and serve here.”
He spoke to two police employees about his concerns. He also gave a statement over the phone to an employee at the mayor’s office, he said.
Both the police and mayor’s office representative said they would look into the complaints, Clancy said.
Rayna Steffen, AJPD’s public safety information officer, confirmed the complaint was received by the department’s Professional Standards Bureau.
“Concerning the complaint involving Officer Hatch, we have adhered to the appropriate protocol and taken the necessary steps to address the issue,” the Office of Professional Standards stated in an email.
Cited for 24 mph in 15 mph zone
Clancy was driving into the school parking lot when he was pulled over by Officer Hatch and cited for going 24 mph in a 15 mph area, he said.
“He was hiding down the first side street, whatever that is, on the righthand side of the road. In my case, at that time in the morning, we were driving and I was dropping him off, There were probably like three cars stacked up ahead of me and then there were cars obviously behind me and we’re coming down 16th and the speed limit on 16th is 25 (mph) from 7 o’clock in the morning to 3:30. Then when you’re turning into the school” it’s 15 mph, he said.
Clancy said when he saw the police lights behind him he thought the officer was trying to get by him.
“So we’re in the parking lot and all of a sudden I look in my rear view mirror and there’s these red lights. Well, I put on my brakes or whatever because I didn’t know if he was going around me for some emergency or what. He was going at such a high rate of speed so close to my bumper that he had to lock up his brakes and he gets off of his motorcycle immediately disrespectful. He comes up to my window and starts chastising me that I purposely did stop my car. ‘I see red lights,’ I said, ‘You scared the crap out of me. I didn’t know what you were doing.’ This is how this guy is and how he drives inside the school zone and a private parking lot,” Clancy said.
“When he got to the parking there he was being belligerent and disrespectful,” he said.
It was the first time he had met Hatch, Clancy said.
“I’ve never directly had encounters with this guy. I’ve just seen him at the school doing this to everybody and around the city and stuff like that,” he said. “I’ve seen this happen; every time I cringe when I’m driving in that school and those two to three times or more that I’ve seen this guy have parents or students pulled over inside the driveway parking area and stuff like that it’s made me sick,” he said.
AJPD complaints process
The city of Apache Junction has a process to handle complaints of its police officers. A citizen complaint form at its website states, “If you feel you have been involved in or have witnessed a situation involving an Apache Junction Police officer that projects a negative or harmful appearance, we would appreciate you letting us know. Your comments will be sent to the Office of Professional Standards for further investigation.”
The online form is for commendations or complaints, the Office of Professional Standards said, according to the email from Steffen, AJPD’s public safety information officer.
“Any commendations or complaints submitted are directed to the Professional Standards Bureau, which includes the Professional Standards and Support Services commander, lieutenant and sergeant. They ensure that they reach the respective supervisor of the employee or squad involved,” the Office of Professional Standards said in the email.
“In cases of commendations, employees are commended as it signifies exceptional customer service acknowledged by a citizen. In the event of a complaint, the supervisor is to address the complaint promptly by reaching out to the complainant and assuring them that the matter is being looked into. Further follow-up may be necessary before reaching a solution. The supervisor will investigate the complaint, look at body camera footage, and speak with the employee involved to understand the situation and find resolve. After completing the investigation, the supervisor forwards the complaint to their lieutenant for a secondary review, followed by a third review conducted by the division commander. This multistep process ensures thoroughness and accountability in addressing complaints within the organization,” it states.
All commendations and complaints are logged for tracking purposes, the Office of Professional Standards said.
“This protocol is mandated by the command staff and helps identify any recurring patterns, whether complaints are substantiated or unfounded. It also helps highlight any consistent positivity or issues with an employee,” it states.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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