PHOENIX (CBS5) -
Four Phoenix police officers accused of showing crime photos at a holiday party have filed a Notice of Claim against the city asking for $2.9 million and to get their jobs back.
Officers Courtney Mayo, Howard Pacifico, Brandy Villareal and Jeff Johnson claim they were "improperly demoted and defamed" by city officials.
The officers also accuse city officials for "severe emotional damages, stress, monetary losses and loss of earning potential," according to claim. [Click here to read the full claim (PDF)].
Mayo is asking the city for $2 million and to be reinstated as a night detective. Pacifico, Villareal and Johnson are asking for $300,000 each and to be reinstated.
In February, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton held a news conference saying he was "outraged" by the crime photos being show at a party.
"The video does show victims of crime, people who have either been the subjects of homicide or other tragic deaths and they're shown in an inappropriate light," Stanton said.
But the claim filed by the four Phoenix officers who are under investigation said it was "a personal slideshow the officers prepared and showed at a Dec. 17, 2011 end-of-year party at Officer Villareal's residence - a personal slide show shown to the officers' squad, consisting of personal photographs and references to events and discussions personal to the officers."
According to the Phoenix Police Department's policy, photos, interviews or notes collected at a crime scene should be handed over as evidence.
The investigation is ongoing.
Stay with cbs5az.com and CBS 5 News for updates on this developing story.
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Notice of claim filed against the City of Phoenix by Phoenix police officers.
