Boxing instructor suspended during conduct investigation

  SOMERTON - A trainer has been suspended from this city's youth boxing program, pending an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct with a minor.

  The police department initiated the investigation of trainer Aaron Colosio more than a week ago in response to allegations stemming from a prior investigation by private investigator Juan Guerrero, said former City Administrator Cliff O'Neill.

  A police detective has begun looking into the background of Colosio, a city employee who has divided his time between working for Somerton's maintenance department and the city-run boxing program, O'Neill said. Colosio continues to work in the maintenance department.

  "I asked for an investigation based on (allegations brought by) Guerrero. We contacted Colosio, discussed the complaint with him, we heard his side of the story and we decided an investigation was needed," said O'Neill.

  O'Neill, whose contract as administrator was terminated this week for unrelated reasons, said the complaint involved a minor whose parents asked for an investigation. He said the request was received Sept. 8, "but I don't have any preliminary indication in any sense. There are many rumors, but we need to continue the process."

  On Sept. 12, O'Neill met with parents of boxing program participants to tell them of the investigation and to listen to their concerns.

  "At first they were angry with me because we had suspended Colosio from the program," O'Neill said. "We told them of the process that we had to follow. At the end, the consensus of the parents was that we continue with the investigation and that we act according to the results."

  O'Neill said he could not reveal the nature of allegations brought to the city by Guerrero. He said the private investigator had been asked by residents to investigate Colosio after allegations of improper conduct with minors.

 "Those who asked me for the investigation ... were concerned that he was working with teens," O'Neill said. "We have to have patience and confidence that the police department will conduct an impartial investigation."

  Suspending Colosio from the program was the correct action, O'Neill said, because "parents are confident that their children will be safe participating in city programs."

  Colosio could not be reached for comment.

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This story previously appeared in Bajo El Sol, The Sun's Spanish-language sister newspaper.