In August of 2013, The Tucson Police Department’s Office of Internal Affairs initiated both a criminal and administrative investigation after a female, who had recently been booked into the Pima County Jail, made allegations that Officer Benjamin Gaballa engaged in criminal misconduct.
Personnel at the Pima County Jail advised Tucson Police Department personnel that a female prisoner indicated he had engaged in inappropriate conduct. Due to the fact that the allegations made were potentially criminal in nature, personnel from the Office of Internal Affairs initiated both a criminal and administrative investigation into Gaballa’s conduct. Gaballa was immediately removed from duty and placed on imposed leave. During the course of the administrative investigation, the investigators learned that Gaballa falsified an official police report, engaged in misrepresentation of facts to his supervisor, and mishandled evidence.
On August 22, as a result of the administrative investigation, Gaballa was terminated from the Tucson Police Department. As a result of the criminal investigation, Gaballa was taken into custody at the Main Police Station located at 270 South Stone Avenue on September 25, 2013.
Gaballa was booked into the Pima County Jail for 2 counts each of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault.