Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney of Cochise County, Paul Correa, has been abruptly discharged from his duties following a controversial incident at a Sierra Vista Target store. This move, announced by County Attorney Lori Zucco, stems from an investigation conducted by the Sierra Vista Police Department related to events that transpired on the night of Wednesday. The inquiry into Correa's actions has been delegated to La Paz County Attorney Rachel Shackelford, a decision mediated by Elizabeth Ortiz, Executive Director of the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys' Advisory Council (APAAC), due to potential conflicts of interest.
The specifics of the off-duty incident involving Correa remain under wraps, but Zucco's swift reaction to terminate his engagement with the office sends a clear signal about the severity of the allegations. According to a statement obtained by the Cochise County's official website, Zucco encountered the nature of the allegations after a briefing with the Sierra Vista Police Department and subsequently, decided that "he can no longer serve in any capacity in my office." Zucco, whose tenure as County Attorney began after a November 2024 election, also took the opportunity to converse with both the victims and law enforcement leaders, including Sheriff Mark Dannels, before making the employment decision.
"The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing, particularly for an officer of the court and public employee entrusted with the public’s confidence," Zucco emphasized, expressing her longstanding zero-tolerance stance towards conduct that "so fundamentally violates the standards of this office."
Zucco made it clear that the removal of Correa does not pre-empt the criminal case's trajectory, but it does reflect the high professional and ethical standards that the Cochise County Attorney’s Office strives to uphold. The office has declared it will refrain from commenting further on the ongoing investigation conducted by the La Paz County Attorney's Office. In the interim, Correa awaits the due process owed to him under the law, as the community anticipates further developments in a case that questions the integrity of those appointed to serve and protect.
