East Valley police sergeant charged with interference in Chandler case

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

The Chandler Police Department released a statement this week about charges filed against a Mesa Police sergeant who court records state interfered with a task force raid.

Sgt. Edward A. Fire, 50, of Mesa, has been charged in Maricopa County Superior Court with first-degree hindering prosecution.

According to a news release from the Chandler Police Department, the crime is a Class 5 felony.

Chandler Police, according to the release, were attempting to execute a search warrant March 10 in central Mesa related to a narcotics investigation.

The home that was the target location was a home where a neighbor and acquaintance of Fire lives, another media outlet reported, and the sergeant received a notification about the pending raid and notified a suspect, who then attempted to leave, but was captured by police.

The suspect told detectives he had been told of the raid by Fire, the outlet reported.

“This individual’s deliberate and intentional actions directly placed officers at significant risk,” Chandler Police stated in the release. “Such actions created a serious and unnecessary threat to officer safety and will not be tolerated by the Chandler Police Department.”

In a separate statement, Mesa Police acknowledged Fire, an 18-year police veteran, will first be the subject of the Chandler Police criminal investigation. Mesa Police vow to fully cooperate and have initiated their own internal investigation.

Fire is seen and his name listed in photos, video and a news release about an August 2024 ceremony where U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton recognized several officers for their roles in a major fentanyl bust. Fire was the lone sergeant mentioned, along with a detective and six officers.

Fire is due to make an appearance in Superior Court on May 26.

Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.