Ex-Tucson Officers Face Loss of State Police Certification

Four former law enforcement officers in Tucson have been banned from serving in any capacity within Arizona’s law enforcement agencies. The decision was made during a recent meeting of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (APOST) board.

The board reported that Christopher Radtke and Daniel Santa Cruz voluntarily surrendered their peace officer certifications, while Rodolfo Rodriguez Jr. had his certification officially revoked. Additionally, the board accepted an agreement for an 18-month suspension of certification for Steven Pupkoff and initiated disciplinary proceedings against Jaime Gutierrez, who has been fired twice from the Tucson Police Department (TPD).

Christopher Radtke, – a former chief deputy of Pima County sheriff’s office – faces serious federal charges, including conspiracy to launder money and theft from federal programs. An FBI investigation revealed he diverting nearly $500,000 of seized funds meant for crime prevention to personal expenses from 2011 to 2016. Radtke pleaded guilty earlier this year and was sentenced to probation and community service, along with a ban from law enforcement employment in Pima County.

Daniel Santa Cruz’ career ended after his involvement with a local prostitution ring came to light. Evidence indicated that he had numerous contacts with massage parlors linked to illegal activities and attempted to make a deal for a two-year suspension, which the board rejected during the last meeting.

Rodolfo Rodriguez was dismissed from TPD after failing to conduct thorough investigations, including crucial child abuse allegations. Documented inaccuracies in his reports led to an upheld termination despite his appeals.

Steven Pupkoff’s situation escalated after an off-duty DUI incident where he crashed his vehicle into a parked car. He faced legal repercussions after refusing to submit to sobriety tests, ultimately convicted of extreme DUI.

Jaime Gutierrez’s multiple policy violations led to his termination from TPD. Throughout his tenure, he was found untruthful about crucial incidents and failed to report significant uses of force. Following his firing, Gutierrez was reinstated by the Civil Service Commission but was dismissed again for continued misconduct.

Gutierrez has received notifications regarding the ongoing charges against him and will have the opportunity for an administrative court hearing concerning his case.

Contact reporter Caitlin Schmidt at cschmidt@tucson.com or 573-4191. Twitter: @caitlinschmidt