Veteran ex-Phoenix homicide detective who mishandled evidence forfeits cop license
Detective Jennifer DiPonzio, a former Phoenix homicide detective, has forfeited her license to be a police officer in Arizona.
The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board accepted DiPonzio's voluntary relinquishment of her certification during the regular monthly meeting on Wednesday.
This decision came after an investigation revealed a pattern of repeated mistakes in handling evidence in her cases, including failure to complete assigned tasks, lying about completing them, mishandling evidence, and neglecting to interview victims.
According to court records, DiPonzio’s errors raised concerns about the integrity of the investigations she was involved in and the potential impact on the outcomes of at least 37 cases ranging from murder to sexual abuse of minors.
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DiPonzio was put on medical leave in 2021 and retired under a confidential disability claim on Dec. 27, 2022. She worked at the department for 20 years.
Phoenix police officials notified the standards board about her departure from the department, but they failed to disclose that she was the subject of an ongoing internal investigation, as required by state law.
The Phoenix Police Department did not comment Thursday on the detective's case or her status when she left the department.
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The outcome of DiPonzio's misconduct is still being felt in some 37 cases in Maricopa Superior Court, 16 of those cases have had convictions.
In the case of Eddie Vaughn, who is being tried for first-degree murder, she was meant to testify in the case, but it was revealed that she had left the force due to a medical condition.
The court also inquired about her presence on the Brady List, but she was not on it, and it was discovered that there was an open investigation into her conduct.
State, county and city prosecutors keep a Brady List to track officers with a history of dishonesty and integrity issues because a legal precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court requires prosecutors to share evidence that may help the accused adequately defend themselves.
The defense filed a motion to dismiss the case based on Phoenix police violating the defendant's right to due process, which is still pending.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ex-Phoenix Detective Jennifer DiPonzio loses badge after lying
