Quartzsite, Arizona- September 4, 2012, Police Chief Jeff Gilbert issued the following statement:
Official Statement: September 4, 2012
On August 23, 2012, I was provided a written notice from
Quartzsite Town Manager, Alex Taft, that I was being placed on administrative
leave.
The notice stated: "A complaint has been lodged
alleging that you facilitated the false presentation of a time sheet containing
false information. An outside agency yet to be determined will be conducting a
criminal investigation into this allegation."
This is the only information I have been provided to date
and I was not informed who "lodged" the complaint.
On August 27, 2012, Alex Taft stated that the police
agencies of Lake Havasu City, Yuma and the La Paz County Sheriff's Office had
all been contacted but declined to conduct any investigation.
Later that same day, Taft issued the following statement:
"Today the Town of Quartzsite has given the evidence to
DPS in the matter of the investigation into Sgt. Garcia and Police Chief Jeff
Gilbert. DPS will be investigating this matter rather than another law
enforcement agency as suggested in the August 27, 2012 Council Meeting."
The following day, Taft released this statement:
"The Town of Quartzsite has turned over evidence
regarding the investigation into Chief Gilbert and Sgt. Garcia to DPS. DPS is
still considering the matter for review."
It is quite apparent that Town management has been
"shopping" for an agency to investigate this "allegation".
I believe this action is in direct retaliation against me for other
departmental issues.
The criminal allegations are completely false and I am
confident I will be cleared of any wrong doing.
Jeff Gilbert
Chief of Police
Quartzsite Police Department
