Three Ex-Tucson Officers on Brink of Losing State Certification

The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board has initiated proceedings against three former law enforcement officers from Tucson and Pima County, potentially leading to the revocation of their peace officer certifications. This decision was made during a meeting on Wednesday, as confirmed by board spokeswoman Sandy Sierra.

The individuals facing scrutiny are Randy W. Quinn, Steven S. Pupkoff, and Michael A. Villarreal. Each will receive formal complaints and has the right to a hearing before an administrative law judge.

Randy W. Quinn, aged 32, was terminated from the Tucson Police Department in December after an internal investigation revealed he conducted unauthorized records checks via the law enforcement database. A complaint was lodged against Quinn after a woman alleged he accessed license plate information at her residence upon the request of her ex-husband, who knew Quinn.

During interviews with investigators, Quinn claimed he did not recall the details but admitted to noting license plate numbers of vehicles he spotted violating traffic laws while off-duty. Investigators classified these actions as felonies and referred the case for potential prosecution; however, the Pima County Attorney’s Office declined due to the confidentiality of internal investigation statements. Quinn had been employed at TPD since 2007 but lost his appeal against his termination in March.

Steven S. Pupkoff, 45, was arrested last June following a DUI incident during which he crashed into a parked car. Witnesses found him slumped over while the vehicle was still running. Upon the police’s arrival, officers observed signs of impairment. Despite initial refusal to participate in sobriety tests, Pupkoff’s blood alcohol concentration was later confirmed to be 0.20, exceeding the legal limit by more than double. He ultimately pleaded guilty to extreme DUI, facing fines, jail time, and probation. Pupkoff had been a member of TPD since 1992.

Michael A. Villarreal, formerly a sheriff’s deputy, was dismissed from his position in November for mishandling a report of underage drinking. After being dispatched to a house party, he preemptively warned a co-worker about the situation, which involved minors consuming alcohol. Although Villarreal was cooperative and acknowledged his poor judgment in the matter, he was terminated on November 18. The coworker, employed as a corrections officer, was cited for her role in the underage drinking incident.

For further inquiries, contact reporter Caitlin Schmidt at cschmidt@tucson.com or 573-4191. You can also follow her on Twitter: @caitlinschmidt.