Police expand inquiry into whether mandatory-reporting duties were followed
Peoria detectives have shifted course in the high-profile case involving two former Centennial High School teachers and a student, confirming this week that their probe now includes an examination of mandatory reporting by school employees and administrators. The change comes after months in which the department had publicly said it saw no evidence that school officials failed to report suspected wrongdoing.
The investigation, opened last July, centers on allegations that former teachers Haley Beck and Angela Burlaka groomed or sent sexually explicit videos to the same student. As of this report, neither Beck nor Burlaka has been criminally charged.
What changed: police statement and public pressure
For several months the Peoria Police Department and Peoria Unified School District (PUSD) cited a department view that officials had met their obligations as mandatory reporters. That stance helped shape the district’s public posture even as community members, advocates and some board members pressed for answers about what district leaders knew and when.
This week the department issued an updated statement saying detectives are now “conducting a complex and thorough investigation into multiple aspects stemming from this incident, including mandatory reporting.” The department did not release details about what prompted the change in emphasis.
“When credible concerns arise, those in positions of authority are required to act immediately. What has come to light at one of our high schools raises serious concerns about whether that duty was upheld.”
The comment above was made in April by then-PUSD Governing Board President Heather Rooks. In May, the board removed her from the presidency, though she remains on the board.
Advocates and lawmakers called for tougher rules
Child safety advocates who have followed the case said the department’s added focus on mandatory reporting was not surprising. Katey McPherson, an advocate cited in coverage of the case, said investigators naturally broaden their scope when evidence points to multiple victims or multiple implicated adults.
McPherson also worked with Republican state Sen. Carine Werner on recent legislation that strengthened mandatory reporting requirements in Arizona. She noted that previous practices sometimes allowed reports to be handled informally — by notifying a supervisor rather than law enforcement — and lawmakers sought to close those gaps.
- Investigation opened: July (year of initial investigation)
- Public statements and board reaction: April to May, including Rooks’s April remarks and her May removal as board president
- Police update: Late July, department says detectives now investigating mandatory reporting
| Item | Date |
|---|---|
| Investigation opened | July (previous year) |
| Board president's public concern | April |
| Board president removed from role | May |
| Police confirm new focus on reporting | Late July |
Local consequences and next steps
The expanded probe raises several immediate questions for Peoria families and educators: whether district employees followed state law on mandatory reporting, whether additional victims may exist, and how PUSD will address gaps in policy or oversight if they are found. The department has not said whether the investigation could lead to charges against district staff or administrators.
PUSD officials have relied on earlier police statements in responding to community concerns. With detectives now expressly looking at mandatory reporting, the district faces renewed scrutiny over both policy and practice. The outcome of the police review could prompt policy changes at the district level, further legislative attention at the state level, or administrative actions depending on what investigators find.
Parents and community members seeking clarity should watch for further statements from the Peoria Police Department and Peoria Unified School District. The department’s description of the inquiry as "complex and thorough" suggests investigators will seek documentary evidence and interviews that could take time to complete.
Until detectives publicly release more findings, the facts the community can rely on are these: two former Centennial High teachers are accused of misconduct involving a student; the criminal investigation has been open since July; and the police department now says it is examining whether mandatory-reporting obligations were fulfilled.
Community members who worry about student safety or who have information related to the case should contact the Peoria Police Department or PUSD. The evolving investigation underscores both the sensitivity of such cases and the important legal obligation school employees carry as mandatory reporters.
