Phoenix Police Department

Last updated

Phoenix Police Department
AZ - Phoenix Police.png
AZ - Phoenix Police Badge.png
AbbreviationPHXPD
MottoWe will serve, protect and reduce crime in Phoenix while treating everyone with dignity and respect.
Agency overview
Formed1881
Preceding agency
  • Phoenix City Marshal
Annual budget$731m (2024) [1]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction Phoenix, Arizona, US
Maricopa County Incorporated and Planning areas Phoenix highlighted.svg
Map of Phoenix Police Department's jurisdiction
Size516 sq mi (1,340 km2).
Population1.64 million [2]
Legal jurisdictionCity of Phoenix
General nature
Operational structure
OfficersAround 2,534 [3] [4]
Elected officer responsible
Agency executives
  • Matthew Giordano, Chief of Police
  • Dennis Orender, Executive Assistant Chief
  • Ed DeCastro, Assistant Chief
  • Sean Kennedy, Assistant Chief
  • Jeffrey Benza, Assistant Chief
  • Brian Lee, Assistant Chief
Divisions
6
  • Support Services Division
  • Patrol Division
  • Management Services Division
  • Strategic Services Division
  • Reserve Division
  • Investigations Division
Bureaus
23
  • Fiscal Management Bureau
  • Planning and Research Bureau
  • Professional Standards Bureau
  • Employment Services Bureau
  • Training Bureau
  • Airport Bureau
  • Homeland Defense Bureau
  • Transit Bureau
  • Major Offender Bureau
  • Traffic Bureau
  • Community Relations Bureau
  • Tactical Support Bureau
  • Drug Enforcement Bureau
  • Family Investigations Bureau
  • Property Crimes Bureau
  • Public Affairs Bureau
  • Violent Crimes Bureau
  • Communications Bureau
  • Information Technology Bureau
  • Laboratory Services Bureau
  • Records and Identifications Bureau
  • Property Management Bureau
  • Reserve Bureau
Facilities
Precincts
8
  • 200 – Black Mountain Precinct
  • 300 – Estrella Mountain Precinct
  • 400 – South Mountain Precinct
  • 500 – Central City Precinct
  • 600 – Desert Horizon Precinct
  • 700 – Mountain View Precinct
  • 800 – Maryvale Precinct
  • 900 – Cactus Park Precinct
AirbasesDeer Valley Airport
Helicopters9
Airplanes3
Website
phoenix.gov/POLICE

The Phoenix Police Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for the city of Phoenix, Arizona. As of May 2024, the Phoenix Police Department comprises just over 2,500 officers, some 625 below authorized strength of 3,125 [3] [4] and more than 1,000 support personnel. The department serves a population of more than 1.64 million [2] and patrol almost 516 square miles (1,340 km2) [2] of the fifth largest city in the United States.

Contents

The United States Department of Justice have documented a pattern of excessive force, discrimination against Black, Hispanic, and Native American people, and other misconduct within Phoenix Police Department.

History

Phoenix was incorporated as a city on February 5, 1881. Law enforcement was handled by Phoenix city marshals and later by Phoenix police officers. Henry Garfias, the first city marshal, was elected by residents in 1881 in the first elections of the newly incorporated city. For six years, he served as the primary law enforcement officer.

In the early 1900s, the Phoenix Police Department used Old Nelly, the horse, to pull the patrol wagon for officers. Most patrolling, however, was done on foot. The city at this time was only 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2) with a population of 11,134 people. Call boxes were used to notify an officer that headquarters wanted him. These were supplemented by a system of horns and flashing lights.

The first death of a Phoenix police officer in the line of duty in Phoenix occurred on February 5, 1925. [5] Officer Haze Burch was shot and killed by two brothers on the run from authorities. The men were later arrested when they were found hiding at the Tempe Buttes. [5]

In 1929, patrolmen worked six days a week and were paid $100 a month. The police department moved into the west section of the new city-county building at 17 South 2nd Avenue. [6] The building included jail cells on the top two floors. In 1933, Ruth Meicher joined the police department as the first female jail matron. The city at this time was only 6.4 square miles (17 km2), with a population of 48,200. In the year prior, the first police radio system in Arizona was installed for the department with the call letters KGZJ. [6]

The department reorganized in 1950 with four divisions, Traffic, Detectives, Patrol and Service Divisions. [6] Officers worked 44 hours per week for $288 per month. In 1974, the Air patrol unit was established initially consisting of one helicopter. A few months later, a fixed wing aircraft and two additional helicopters were added. [6]

In 2008, the department formed the Block Watch program, which is a partnership between citizens and the police department to help deter youth from crime. The department also runs a similar program under the name G.A.I.N. which stands for Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods. [7]

Phoenix police officers shot at least 41 people in 2018, the highest number in the department's history and the highest number of any U.S. city that year, killing at least 19 people. Of those shot, demographically, Native Americans were the most over-represented group for their population size, while Hispanics—who comprise 43 percent of the city's population—were shot most often overall. [8] [9] [10]

In 2018, the city budget allocated funding for 3,125 officers, but as of May 2024, the department had just over 2,500 officers, many of whom are eligible to retire. [11] As of 2024, PPD received 41 percent of funds allocated in the city's general fund budget. [12]

As of 2020, Phoenix has one of the highest rates of police killings in the United States. [13] Civil rights leaders and community activists have argued that the city's police officers are rarely held accountable for using lethal force and making false statements. [13] [14]

On August 5, 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an investigation into the Phoenix Police Department and the City of Phoenix. [15] In June 2024, the DOJ concluded its investigation, finding that the Phoenix Police Department routinely discriminates against people of color and uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force. [16] [17] Under the Trump administration, all police reform actions were frozen by the DOJ, including a potential federal oversight of the Phoenix Police Department. [18]

In January 2024, an audit determined Officer Kenneth Vine Jr. had earned $40,000 that month. [19]

Controversies

Structure

The Phoenix Police Department is divided into six divisions: Community and Support Services, Investigations, Management Services, Patrol, Reserve, Strategic and Tactical Services. [40]

Leadership

On September 12, 2022, Michael Sullivan took over as interim Police Chief of the Phoenix Police Department following the departure of former Chief Jeri Williams. [41] Sullivan began his career in law enforcement with the Louisville Metro Police Department. In 2019, he joined the Baltimore Police Department as Deputy Commissioner. Where he served in the Operations Bureau as well as led BPD's reform efforts and brought the agency into initial compliance with a number of the mandates of its Federal Consent Decree. [42]

Patrol Division

The Phoenix Police Department Patrol Division is organized into seven precincts:

Community and Support Services Division

  • Central Booking
  • Communications Bureau
  • Community Relations Bureau
  • Employment Services Bureau
  • Information Technology Bureau
  • Property Management Bureau
  • Strategic Information Bureau
  • Training Bureau

Investigations Division

  • Family Investigations Bureau
  • Violent Crimes Bureau
  • Property Crimes Bureau
  • Laboratory Services Bureau
  • Drug Enforcement Bureau

Strategic and Tactical Services Division

  • Airport Bureau
  • Air Support Unit
  • Canine And Specialty Vehicles
  • Homeland Defense Bureau
  • Special Assignments Unit
  • Tactical Support Bureau
  • Transportation Bureau

Management Services Division

  • Chiefs Office
  • Code Enforcement Unit
  • Fiscal management Bureau
  • Legal Unit
  • Professional Standards Bureau
  • Public Affairs Bureau

Rank structure

Phoenix Police Department rank structure [44]
TitleInsignia[ failed verification ]
Chief of Police
4 Gold Stars.svg
Executive Assistant Chief
3 Gold Stars.svg
Assistant Chief
3 Gold Stars.svg
Commander
2 Gold Stars.svg
Lieutenant
US-O1 insignia.svg
Sergeant
Sergeant Stripes - Blue w-Gold.png
Police Officer

The position of Executive Assistant Chief is considered second-in-command of the department. The collar rank insignia is indistinguishable from other Assistant Chiefs. However, the title "Executive Assistant Chief" is inscribed in the title scroll on the top of the breast badge to indicate the position.

After ten years in the rank of Sergeant, employees are authorized to add one rocker to the bottom of the sergeant stripes. After fifteen years in rank, two rockers are authorized and after twenty years in the rank of sergeant, three rockers are authorized to be added to the sergeant stripes. There is no associated elevation in actual rank, and no additional pay, as these extra rockers are optional and only meant to distinguish time in the grade and are not a promotion.

The Phoenix Police Department also uses shoulder patches to denote the positions of Sergeant-in-Training and Field Training Officer, although these are not official supervisory ranks.

TitleInsignia
Sergeant-in-Training
Corporal 2.png
Field Training Officer
FTOPatch.jpg

Resources

Transportation

Phoenix Police Helicopter Phoenix Police A119-2.JPG
Phoenix Police Helicopter

The Phoenix Police Department uses Chevrolet Tahoes for their primary patrol vehicles, and Honda ST1300P Motorcycles, Kawasaki 1000 Motorcycles, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Aviation

The department uses three AgustaWestland A119 helicopters. They also fly five Eurocopter AS350 B3's and an AgustaWestland A109 Power for rescues.

The department also uses a Pilatus PC-12. This aircraft is intended for surveillance, but also serves as a transport. [45] Additionally, the Air Support Unit has three Cessna aircraft; one 1978 182Q, one 1981 172P and a P210R. [46]

Firearms

Phoenix Police officers are typically armed with a Glock 17 pistol chambered in 9mm. Several other handguns, shotguns, rifles and less than lethal launchers and munitions are also authorized. [47]

Fallen Officers

46 police officers and 7 K9's have died in the line of duty. [48]

OfficerEnd of WatchCause of Death
Officer Haze Burch
February 5, 1925
Gunfire
Officer David Lee "Star" Johnson
May 2, 1944
Gunfire
Officer Walter H. Stewart
February 19, 1952
Vehicular assault
Officer Dale Crist Stone
December 28, 1970
Motorcycle crash
Officer Albert Raymond Bluhm
December 28, 1970
Gunfire
Officer Clay Quincy Haywood
November 22, 1971
Motorcycle crash
Officer Michael D. Hemschmeyer
November 2, 1973
Automobile crash
Officer Gilbert Richard Chavez
November 2, 1973
Gunfire
Police Guard John Franklin MacInnis
June 16, 1975
Heart attack
Officer Arthur Edward Del Gaudio Jr.
April 22, 1976
Vehicle pursuit
Officer Ignacio Gonzales "Nacho" Conchos
July 1, 1982
Gunfire
Officer John R. Davis Sr.
August 6, 1982
Gunfire
Officer Kenneth E. Campbell
January 29, 1984
Vehicle pursuit
Officer Errol C. Hawkins
April 24, 1984
Struck by vehicle
Officer Robert L. Polmanteer
May 4, 1984
Motorcycle crash
Officer Kevin W. Forsythe
September 7, 1984
Struck by vehicle
Officer John A. Robertson
November 19, 1984
Gunfire
Officer Robert T. Fike
January 8, 1986
Gunfire
Officer Kenneth L. Collings
May 27, 1988
Gunfire
Officer Patrick O. Briggs
June 20, 1990
Vehicle pursuit
Sergeant John Wayne Domblisky
July 26, 1990
Vehicular assault
Sergeant Danny L. Tunney
July 26, 1990
Vehicular assault
Officer Leonard Leon Kolodziej
September 4, 1991
Gunfire
Sergeant David Martin Kieffer
May 21, 1997
Vehicular assault
Officer Marc Todd Atkinson
March 26, 1999
Gunfire
Officer Goelet Alessandro Carlo Beuf
November 1, 1999
Assault
Officer Beryl Wayne Scott Jr.
September 10, 2002
Motorcycle crash
Officer Donald Ralph Schultz
May 12, 2004
Drowning
Officer Jason Alan Wolfe
August 28, 2004
Gunfire
Officer Eric James White
August 28, 2004
Gunfire
Officer David Christopher Uribe
May 10, 2005
Gunfire
Officer Paul Robert Salmon
November 29, 2005
Automobile crash
Officer George Valentino Cortez Jr.
July 27, 2007
Gunfire
Officer Nicki James "Nick" Erfle
September 18, 2007
Gunfire
Officer Shane Cory Figueroa
October 25, 2008
Vehicular assault
Officer Travis Paul Murphy
May 26, 2010
Gunfire
Officer Daryl Michael Raetz
May 19, 2013
Struck by vehicle
Detective John Thomas Hobbs
March 3, 2014
Gunfire
Officer David Van Glasser
May 19, 2016
Gunfire
Officer Paul Thomas Rutherford
March 21, 2019
Struck by vehicle
Commander Greg Scott Carnicle
March 29, 2020
Gunfire
Officer Ginarro Allen New
May 31, 2021
Vehicular assault
Officer Mathew Aaron Hefter
August 7, 2021
COVID19
Sergeant Thomas Crawford Craig
September 3, 2021
COVID19
Officer Phillip James Vavrinec Jr.
September 22, 2021
COVID19
Officer Zane Coolidge
September 6, 2024
Gunfire
K9 OfficerEnd of WatchCause of Death
K9 Roscoe
July 13, 1984
Struck by vehicle
K9 Yeager
January 1, 1986
Fall
K9 Dax
October 20, 1994
Gunfire
K9 Hunter
April 17, 1996
Gunfire
K9 R.J.
August 13, 2005
Vehicular assault
K9 Top
March 13, 2007
Heatstroke
K9 Bane
April 17, 2018
Unidentified

See also

References

  1. "Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020" (PDF). City of Phoenix Budget and Research Department . Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "ABOUT US". phoenix.gov. Archived from the original on June 8, 2001.
  3. 1 2 Shapiro, Danny (October 27, 2021). "Phoenix Police expanding recruiting efforts as numbers continue to fall". KTAR-FM . Archived from the original on December 10, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Phillips, Mark (September 9, 2021). "Phoenix police facing staffing shortages". KNXV-TV . Archived from the original on August 10, 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Police Officer Haze Burch". Officer Down Memorial Page . Archived from the original on March 28, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "PHOENIX POLICE HISTORY". phoenix.gov. Archived from the original on March 11, 2001.
  7. "G.A.I.N." Archived from the original on August 9, 2013.
  8. Garcia, Nicole (December 17, 2018). "Phoenix Police searching for answers, as officer involved shootings almost doubled in 2018". Fox 10 Phoenix. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  9. Rosenberg, Eli (June 27, 2019). "This city led the U.S. in police shootings last year. After a viral video, tensions are boiling over". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on June 27, 2019.
  10. Burkitt, Bree; Garcia, Uriel J. (January 31, 2020). "Phoenix police shot at more people than NYPD did in 2018. Will that change?". The Arizona Republic . Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  11. "How the Phoenix Police Department is working to combat a systemic officer shortage". KJZZ. March 18, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  12. Vera Project. "What Policing Costs".
  13. 1 2 Levin, Sam (July 14, 2020). "Revealed: Phoenix officer brutalized woman during minor traffic stop, then took her to jail". The Guardian . Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  14. Oppel, Richard A. Jr. (December 10, 2018). "How Phoenix Explains a Rise in Police Violence: It's the Civilians' Fault". The New York Times . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018.
  15. "Justice Department Announces Investigation of the City of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police Department". United States Department of Justice. August 5, 2021.
  16. 1 2 Billeaud, Jacques (June 13, 2024). "Phoenix police have pattern of violating civil rights and using excessive force, Justice Dept. says". AP News . Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  17. 1 2 Levin, Sam (June 13, 2024). "'Pervasive failings': Phoenix police kill civilians without justification, US says". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
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  23. Phoenix police Sgt probed for taking cash, by Donna Rossi, CBS5AZ.COM, July 17, 2012, retrieved July 21, 2012
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  40. "Department Organization Chart" (PDF). City of Phoenix . Archived (PDF) from the original on February 21, 2014.
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  42. "Police Executive Team". www.phoenix.gov. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  43. "Police – Maryvale Estrella Mountain Precinct". www.phoenix.gov. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
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  45. "Phoenix PD Purchases Plane". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  46. "Landings.com Database Search".
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