Officer files civil suit over counselor relationship tied to city contract
A Mesa police officer has filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Mesa and a former counselor, alleging he was "groomed and manipulated" while receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder beginning in 2024. The complaint, filed in June, says the officer was referred to counselor Jennifer Cooper by current and former members of the police department.
The lawsuit asserts Cooper had an agreement to provide behavioral-health services to Mesa officers pursuant to Arizona statute known as the Craig T. Tiger Act, ARS § 38-673. According to court documents, Cooper diagnosed the officer with PTSD while acting in that contractual role with the city.
"Respondent engaged in a sexual relationship with Client who was Respondent’s current psychotherapy client,"
That language appears in a consent agreement accepted by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners in July 2025 after a supervisor filed a complaint against Cooper in June 2025. Under the agreement, Cooper voluntarily surrendered her license and was required to stop providing services to clients within 30 days. Public audio reviewed by local reporters indicated the board discussed the client in the case being a Mesa police officer.
Local fallout and procedural questions
The civil complaint says the intimate relationship began while the officer was a current client and ended in August 2025, prompting an internal investigation by the department. The lawsuit alleges that the internal probe harmed the officer, and it is one of two lawsuits filed on behalf of the officer and his wife.
The case raises questions Mesa residents often ask about city-contracted mental-health care: how vendors are vetted, how complaints are handled and what protections exist for first responders seeking confidential treatment. The lawsuit frames those concerns within claims of exploitation of a vulnerable patient and alleged municipal responsibility.
- Timeline: Officer sought help beginning in 2024; complaint to state board filed June 2025; consent agreement accepted July 2025; relationship ended August 2025; civil suit filed June (year not specified in suit text provided).
- Action by regulator: Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners accepted a consent agreement resulting in the surrender of Cooper’s license.
- City link: Complaint alleges Cooper was engaged by the City of Mesa under ARS § 38-673.
| Item | Date (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Officer began seeking treatment | 2024 |
| Complaint to state board | June 2025 |
| Consent agreement accepted | July 2025 |
| Relationship ended (alleged) | August 2025 |
The city and the counselor are named defendants in the suit. Public records and the board action confirm the counselor surrendered her license as part of the consent agreement; audio from the board meeting showed the client involved was a Mesa police officer. The civil complaint itself describes alleged grooming and seduction while the officer was under care.
For Mesa residents, the case underscores how municipal contracts for behavioral health intersect with officer wellness programs and accountability. The suit remains pending. News Block will monitor court filings, official responses from the city and any additional disclosures from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.
