The Sierra Vista police officer who resigned Tuesday after being indicted for accessing a law enforcement data base for personal reasons is alleged to have engaged in the activity just three days after separating from his wife, according to court records.
Raymond Charles Pyle is awaiting arraignment on two counts of computer tampering in violation of Arizona Revised Statutes 13-2316(A)(7). He is scheduled to be arraigned on June 17 in the Cochise County Superior Court.
Public court records show Pyle’s petition for dissolution of his 2016 marriage lists the couple’s date of separation as Aug. 7, 2021. The petition itself was filed with the Cochise County Superior Court on Aug. 25 while the alleged unlawful database access occurred Aug. 10.
A statement from the Sierra Vista Police Department reveals that information about Pyle’s alleged activities with the database came to light in early March during another investigation. A request was made to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office to handle the criminal inquiry.
Pyle, who was hired by SPVD in January 2021, was placed on paid administrative leave on April 20 after CCSO detectives announced the matter would be referred to the Cochise County Attorney’s Office for consideration of criminal charges. That same day an administrative investigation was initiated by SVPD’s Special Operations Bureau.
Then on June 2, the case was presented by Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre to a grand jury which indicted Pyle for the two Class 6 felonies. Pyle was informed on June 7 that the city was initiating the process for termination of employment. He resigned the same day.
“Officer Pyle’s violation of the public’s trust by using departmental resources to acquire information for personal use cannot be tolerated,” SVPD Police Chief Adam Thrasher said in announcing Pyle’s indictment and resignation.
The Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training (AZPOST) board will be notified of Pyle’s resignation and alleged misconduct.
