Chandler’s vice mayor, wife accused in case of damaging political sign

CHANDLER, AZ — Chandler police allege that the city’s vice mayor and his wife were involved in a case associated with damaging a political sign.

The Chandler Police Department has referred charges for OD Harris and his wife Elizabeth Ward after an investigation found the couple was allegedly involved in the damage of a political sign at the end of July.

The police department has sent the case outside the city to Scottsdale’s city prosecutor because of the conflict of interest with him on the council.

The report states that on July 28, just days before the city election, witnesses saw a woman rip up an anti-OD sign near Chandler Boulevard and Hearthstone Way.

According to the report, Harris said he was in that area to fix his signs that day as many of his had been stolen.

The report went on to say that Harris told investigators that he was not sure if it was his wife in the video as he could not see the woman’s face.

The theft or damage of political signs is a class 2 misdemeanor in the state of Arizona.

Harris won his re-election bid at the end of July.

ABC15 reached out to Harris for a comment, he shared the following:

• “There has been an ongoing attack on me and my family for the last four years. I believe employees of the Chandler Police Department have been using their position to try and discredit me. I have had a couple times where my family needed to contact the police – and while I did nothing wrong in my position as council – each time that happened, someone notified the media to request the report, the bodycam video etc.

• That is why I have requested an official investigation in an official email to the city manager last week. 


• I wish I could have given the City time to address this, but yet another leak from the police department is forcing me to discuss this all publicly. 
Here’s what the latest police report will tell you. The police department spent hours of city resources investigating a report of a sign begin stolen. Despite the fact that this is an issue with every candidate, every year, only the “No-OD” complaint was investigated to this level. 


• For instance, two detectives spent more than four hours – two days in a row- surveilling two signs valued at one dollar. They found nothing. All this was done in partnership with the unregistered, No OD political activist group. They placed trackers in the signs, used flock cameras, and interviewed multiple business owners. 
Meanwhile Chandler still struggles with a shortage of police officers. I believe that our residents would rather see their tax dollars and police resources on critical crimes. 


• I did not take anyone’s sign. 


• I want to credit Chief Chapman. When he learned of this investigation, he said would not have investigated it, and immediately sent it to another police department to avoid a conflict of interest. I’m shocked that wasn’t the immediate approach to this issue, instead of authorizing city resources. 
Here are some of the other issues I am concerned about: 


• I know the public has a right to police reports and camera information. My concern is that the police are notifying political activists anytime a councilmember has contact with police. I believe this is a misuse of their position. 


• As an elected official, I know I am held to a different standard, but none of these videos showed me doing anything but supporting my children. And then those same videos were used in a racist bigoted political attack this year. My kids shouldn’t have to be subjected to that simply because I’m a councilmember. I’m not the only Councilmember who has been subjected to this.

I would refer you to the Chandler law Enforcement association survey one of the Chandler officers went on record stating, “Ethical issues are overlooked or lied about. We have been made to lie in our reports and delete important information..”

I’m looking forward to getting back to the business of Chandler.”

Elizabeth Ward, Harris’ wife also shared a statement with ABC15:

“The Chandler Police Department faces a corruption issue that must be addressed, as some officers are failing in their duties. Since 2020, my husband, now the Vice Mayor of Chandler, and our family have been targeted due to his strong commitment for fighting for all families in Chandler. His efforts have upset a small, racist group, despite his being reelected as the top vote-getter, showing the community’s support. Our campaign materials have been defaced with racist symbols, including the N-word, and our property has been vandalized without any proper investigation from the authorities.

Despite ongoing harassment and multiple complaints, no action has been taken by the city attorney, Kelly Schwab, or the city manager, Josh Wright. A small group within our police department is corrupt, and the truth will eventually come out. This story is more significant than what is being reported about an unregistered political activist group opposing us with homemade signs.

We believe the same individuals attempting to accuse us of an alleged crime valued at a dollar are responsible for putting racist signs around town and black facing my husband signs. This negligence reflects a broader problem in Chandler and highlights a concerning bias with a rogue group of law enforcement’s officers operating within Chandler PD. The house of cards is going to fall. The residents need to see the behavior that is going on behind their backs and taxpayers resources being used for such political attacks. The CLEA report of March 10, 2023 shows many police officers expressing grievances with a corrupt system and being instructed to lie on police reports. Therefore, we need to revisit other police reports to ensure their accuracy.”