A Buckeye police officer was fired for speaking publicly about her concerns about the police department.
Officer Kim Kamins had been placed on administrative leave and investigated for policy violations after speaking publicly about her concerns for lack of safety for the residents and officers of Buckeye.
The investigation against Kamins sustained allegations that she violated town policy by promoting, embellishing or spreading rumors; allegations of conduct on or off duty, which brings the department into disrepute or reflects discredit upon the member as an employee of the department; and publicly criticizing or ridiculing the department.
In her rebuttal to the allegations, Kamins countered that town management had allowed former police chief Dan Saban to make disparaging remarks publicly about the conditions of the police department, but did nothing to pursue policy violations against him.
"The management for the Town of Buckeye set a very clear precedent for all employees when they allowed Dan Saban to go on record making these types of false statements and failed to take any kind of action to either discipline him or correct his misrepresentation. In that I have spoke out publicly and formal action has been taken against me by the Town of Buckeye and the Town has allowed others to engage in the same behavior without disciplinary action is itself an act of discrimination against me," Kamins wrote in her rebuttal.
Kamins also said she found herself "working for a police agency that lacked the basic and necessary resources to effectively provide protection for the community and the officers," including problems with a lack of officers on the streets, first line supervisors, command staff, vehicles and training.
In one instance, Kamins said, she was asked to be the only police officer on patrol in the 650-square-mile area after already spending hours on duty.
"When I recognized that I was being placed in a position, which not only compromised my safety but also the community's safety, I strongly voiced my concerns to the on-duty sergeant who was leaving for the day and basically demanded that one of the day officers "stay late" and work the street with me. One officer with less than five hours of sleep working the street did not meet standards and was a serious liability for the town."
Kamins called the situation a "norm" in the department rather than an exception.
Town officials could not be reached for comment before press time.
Robin Clayton can be reached by e-mail at rclayton@westvalleyview.com.
