Arizona's peace-officer licensing board has sidelined a Phoenix police officer for 18 months after finding he behaved drunkenly while off duty and shared allegedly privileged law-enforcement material with a woman he met online. The fallout stems from a late-night scene in downtown Phoenix after a 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks playoff game and follows months of scrutiny by agency investigators.
The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board voted to suspend Clark's peace-officer certification for 18 months, according to 12News. When calculating the penalty, board members reportedly credited Clark with 240 hours of suspension he had already served with the Phoenix Police Department, the outlet reported.
The case tracks back to the night of October 11, 2023, after a Diamondbacks playoff win near Chase Field, when Clark allegedly drank heavily, argued with bar staff, punched a framed picture and fought with a security guard, according to Phoenix New Times. The outlet reported that Clark repeatedly identified himself as a police officer, was arrested and later released. "Throughout the evening, Officer Clark was very intoxicated," a compliance specialist told the board, as reported by the New Times.
Investigators also allege Clark sent body-worn camera clips, photos of firearms and Arizona Crime Information Center intelligence to a Fresno dispatcher he met online. That dispatcher then forwarded the material to a coworker, who alerted the Fresno Professional Standards Bureau, which in turn notified Phoenix police, according to 12News. Phoenix's special investigations unit concluded the exchanges violated department policy but did not amount to criminal conduct, and the board was told that no one involved wished to press charges. At a hearing following the board's vote, Clark told members he has stopped drinking, sought counseling and is "ashamed" of his behavior.
Legal And Licensing Fallout
The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board has the power to suspend or revoke peace-officer certification, a move that can effectively bar an officer from working in law enforcement anywhere in the state, according to materials from the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. In Clark's case, the board reportedly approved a consent agreement that takes into account earlier department discipline, counseling efforts and time already served under suspension.
Why It Matters
Licensing decisions are among the most far-reaching forms of police accountability because they strip an officer of the legal authority to simply move to another Arizona agency. The state board has disciplined numerous officers in recent years, a trend local outlets have tracked and that officials cite when defending tougher licensing reviews, according to Phoenix New Times. For Phoenix residents, Clark's case is a pointed reminder that off-duty conduct can carry consequences well beyond an internal reprimand.
The board's 18-month suspension will remain in effect unless it is changed on appeal and represents a licensing sanction rather than a criminal sentence. This story will be updated if the Phoenix Police Department or the board releases additional documents or public statements.
