Arizona Public Safety Pension Fund Considering Firing Leader

By Mark Brodie, Steve Goldstein
Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - 10:32am
Updated: Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - 12:27pm
Audio icon Download mp3 (6.5 MB)
Trevor Huxham/KJZZ
Craig Harris

Arizona's pension system for retired police and fire officials is deciding the future of its embattled leader.

The Public Safety Personnel Retirement System board is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to take action against administrator Jared Smout after state investigators recommended he be fired.

Smout has been on leave since April after complaints were filed against him.

An investigation by the Arizona Department of Administration said Smout admitted he was attracted to an employee of the pension fund, sent inappropriate text messages and often hugged the worker inappropriately.

He also was investigated for improperly handling complaints that computer staff were spying on employees, among other things.

Smout oversees a nearly $10 billion pension fund that administers retirement benefits for police, firefighters, corrections officers, judges and elected officials.

Craig Harris of the Arizona Republic has been following this story and joined The Show to talk about it.

More Stories From KJZZ

BusinessThe Show