DPS inspects 1,200+ Arizona school buses

Previous inspections by discredited former trooper questioned

PHOENIX (KYMA, KECY) - A criminal investigation cast doubts on the safety of nearly 1,300 school buses in Arizona, so the Department of Public Safety re-inspected all of them.

The criminal investigation involved a former state trooper assigned to the DPS's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau. That's section of the agency responsible for inspecting school buses.

DPS says it began looking into Steve Powers' behavior in November 2019 after receiving reports that he was misusing his department vehicle. Investigators say they soon learned the former trooper may have broken the law.

Information gathered during the investigation raised questions about Powers' bus inspections. DPS decided to exercise an abundance of caution. It mobilized all 48 of its school bus inspectors to re-examine all 1,294 vehicles certified by the former trooper. The re-inspection revealed only minor violations, all of which were immediately corrected.

Powers agreed to resign from the DPS in late February in lieu of termination. He'd been with the agency for 18-years. The criminal investigation against him continues.