“The wife of a former Mesa police lieutenant has suddenly found herself accused of disgracing her own department.
Mesa police Sgt. Diana Williams confirmed to 12 News, the department initiated an internal affairs investigation against homicide detective Teresa Van Galder.
It stems from a series of 12 News investigative reports regarding her husband, Rick Van Galder who was arrested for drunk driving by Gilbert police on Feb. 12, 2016. Teresa was also in the car, drunk. The two had been golfing and admitted to drinking throughout the day and the night before in Scottsdale.
The arrest was captured on Gilbert police body cameras. Rick tried to pull the cop card and get professional courtesy, repeatedly attempting to wiggle his way out of the arrest. But Gilbert police officers and their supervisors did not cave into pressure. Teresa can be seen on the video slurring her words and fumbling around in her purse looking for her cell phone and driver’s license.
In fact, the arresting officer noted in his report, while trying to talk to Teresa, that he witnessed, a chewed piece of pizza fall out of her mouth and onto the seat between her legs. Gilbert police had to have the couple’s car towed because Teresa was also inebriated. Her daughter picked her up from the scene of the traffic stop. Rick’s blood alcohol level was .306 following a blood draw that was taken 46 minutes after he was pulled over.
In August, Rick Van Galder resigned before Mesa police could terminate his employment.
“But a 12 News investigation uncovered he did not fulfill his jail sentence. Scottsdale city jail detention sergeant Don Vogel sprang Van Galder from his jail cell the morning of Aug. 5 and Van Galder was put up in detention manager Jeff Landrum’s office which was not even in the jail. He was also given a key card which allowed him to come and go as he pleased.
And he had a visitor: his wife. No visitors are allowed at the Scottsdale jail. In September, Scottsdale Police Chief Alan Rodbell confirmed to 12 News that Teresa Van Galder accessed Landrum’s office and brought her husband food on at least two occasions. Sources also tell 12 News Teresa brought donuts for jail staff during one of those visits.”
Special rules for them
But if you “Resist”
You will be shot down like a dog
Time to start dumping the bad apples out of the bushel
Better empty than rotten
Deborah Lee Jarrett 