On July 30, 1992, Phoenix Police Officers Dave Logan and Marla Wasser were working the Safe Streets Program in the Garfield Neighborhood with the former Organized Crime Bureau and initiated contact with two subjects in the area of North 9th Street and East Polk Street. One of the suspects was Jaime Bernal, who was previously incarcerated in the Arizona Department of Corrections for attempted burglary and theft charges and had been released from prison in November, 1991.
Before Officers Logan and Wasser could exit their vehicle, Bernal fired at Officer Logan with a five shot revolver, striking him in the neck and damaging his spinal cord. Bernal then shot Officer Wasser twice, however she was able to return fire, striking Bernal in the shoulder. While Officer Wasser eventually returned to full-duty and retired, Officer Logan suffered debilitating injuries and medically retired from the Phoenix Police Department in December, 1998. Officer Logan’s health has continued to deteriorate over the years due to the nature of his injuries.
After a jury trial, Bernal was convicted of two counts of attempted first degree murder and sentenced to 28 years in prison on the first count against Officer Logan, and 20 years in prison on the second count against Officer Wasser with both sentences running consecutively since being readmitted to the Arizona Department of Corrections in 1993 . Every year since 2012, Bernal, who has an extensive disciplinary history while incarcerated, has been granted a hearing before the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency in an effort to reduce the sentence he is serving for charges related to shooting Officer Logan prior to serving his sentence for charges related to shooting Officer Wasser, which will begin in 2020.
Today, April 15, 2019, marked Bernal’s eighth hearing before the Clemency Board requesting a reduction in his sentence. PLEA Secretary Frank Marino, Assistant Chief John Collins, Officer Wasser, and a representative from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office all spoke on behalf of Officer Logan and his family. Because Officer Logan was unable to attend the hearing, Frank Marino read the emotional letter Officer Logan had sent to the Board chronicling the toll the shooting has taken on his life. Once again, the Clemency Board voted unanimously to deny parole for Bernal, who will have one more opportunity to appear before the Board before starting his second sentence.
PLEA will always strive to attend these hearings to be a voice and advocate for our officers who are unable to attend these hearings and their family members who have suffered with them.