The Phoenix Police Department has decided to fire Sgt. Dusten Mullen, the off-duty cop who showed up at a student protest in Chandler and admitted to trying to bait protesters into assaulting him. Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano announced the firing in a press release Thursday.
“His actions raised significant concerns about judgment and professionalism,” Giordano wrote. “Although he was off duty and not in uniform, the oath we take binds us to a higher standard. After thorough consideration, I made the decision to terminate his employment.”
As part of an ongoing federal court case against the department, Mullen is asking a judge to reverse that decision. On Thursday, Mullen’s attorney, Steve Serbalik, filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, asking federal Judge Susan Brnovich to prohibit the department from going through with firing and to place him on administrative leave until the lawsuit plays out in court. Serbalik asserts the city conducted a flawed investigation of Mullen’s actions, which Mullen claims were protected free speech activity…