GILBERT, AZ — A former Gilbert police sergeant, fired for misconduct, has now pleaded guilty to a criminal charge.
Andrew Bates' plea deal to a misdemeanor was finalized last week. He was using a police computer to look up criminal histories of people based on personal relationships, not legitimate law enforcement purposes.
The Gilbert Police Department's internal investigation also showed Bates violated policy by letting his mistress ride along in his cruiser. He also failed to activate his body-worn camera, which was required when he responded to a call for service involving that same woman.
The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, which certifies peace officers to work in Arizona, voted Wednesday to consider even more discipline for Bates. AZPOST could revoke or suspend his ability to be a police officer. The final decision could take a few months.
A Gilbert police spokeswoman told ABC15, "This was an isolated incident, and we will continue to train our officers on the importance of using police databases for their intended lawful purposes.”
ABC15 reached out to Bates through his lawyer, who said they had no comment.
