Two Mesa (Ariz.) High School administrators have been placed on paid administrative leave and face charges for allegedly failing to meet mandatory reporting requirements following an assault on campus.
As reported by Kyle Simchuck of local NBC affiliate KPNX, principal Kirk Thomas and athletic director David Klecka were investigated by the Mesa Police Department for failure to report under Arizona Revised Statute 13-3620A6 during the district's winter break.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred Feb. 12, 2025. The following day, Mesa police began investigating allegations of an aggravated assault. According to police, three males assaulted a juvenile male at Mesa High School around 8 p.m. following an after-hours soccer game. One of the suspects allegedly brandished a firearm during the assault.
Investigating officers spoke with two witnesses but were unable to contact the alleged victim despite several days of trying. At the conclusion of the investigation into the reporting delay, charges were submitted to the Mesa City Prosecutors' Office against both administrators.
"Mesa Public Schools conducted an internal investigation and determined that protocols for reporting suspected crimes were not followed by Mesa High School staff," KPNX's Simchuk wrote. "The district said appropriate disciplinary action was taken in accordance with district policy, and the Arizona State Board of Education Investigative Unit was notified."
A district statement noted, "Mesa Public Schools is fully committed to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment and cooperates with local law enforcement and the Arizona State Board of Education/Investigative Unit regarding any alleged unlawful activity on our campuses."
The district said it continues to cooperate fully with law enforcement and the State Board and remains committed to following the law, enforcing district policies and ensuring student safety and accountability, as reported by KPNX.
In an exclusive interview with Arizona's Family (KTVK/KPHO), a former security guard for the district, Sheldon Deer, said he reported the incident. Deer, who was the former lead security for Mesa High School, said he was off duty when one of his guards called asking what to do.
“I got a call saying, ‘Hey, they got a gun. They got a gun.’ He said, ‘OK, get inside, get inside the stadium. We gotta call 911,’ and he told me that Mr. Kleca specifically told him no, no, because then we’ll have 50,000 cops here,” Deer told Arizona’s Family.
Deer said he called his father for guidance in that moment.
“I got an admin telling my guys that we can’t call PD, and I don’t want to go to jail for them because we’re mandatory reporters,” Deer said.
Deer said he felt district officials retaliated against him after he reported the incident. The Mesa Public Schools Governing Board voted to terminate him in December, Stephanie Duprey of Arizona's Family reported.
Students rallied outside the school in November to protest Deer’s firing. A post is now circulating on social media rallying support for Thomas, who has worked for Mesa Public Schools for more than 30 years, and Klecka.
The Governing Board is expected to vote on their employment Thursday, Duprey reported.
