Phoenix Police Department


The Phoenix Police Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for the city of Phoenix, Arizona. Currently, the Phoenix Police Department comprises more than 2,900 officers and more than 1,000 support personnel. The department serves a population of more than 1.6 million and patrol almost of the fifth largest city in the United States. Phoenix has one of the highest rates of police killings in the United States.

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 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. 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.
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. 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, 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.
The department reorganized in 1950 with four divisions, Traffic, Detectives, Patrol and Service Divisions. 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.
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.
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 and disproportionately targeting black people.
As of 2020, Phoenix has one of the highest rates of police killings in the United States. Civil rights leaders and community activists have argued that the city's police officers are rarely held accountable for escalating encounters, attacks on residents, using lethal force without considering other options, and making false statements.

Structure

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

Patrol Division

The Phoenix Police Department Patrol Division is organized into seven precincts.
;Desert Horizon Precinct
The precinct covers 74.92 square miles with an approximate population of 311,770 residents. This precinct also runs the Sunnyslope Neighborhood Police Station.
;Black Mountain Precinct
The covers 182 square miles with a population of 224,000 residents.
;Cactus Park Precinct
The precinct covers an area of 30 square miles with a population of 188,000 residents. This precinct also is responsible for the Goelet A.C. Beuf Neighborhood Police Station.
;Mountain View Precinct
The precinct covers an area of 46 square miles with a population of 214,386.
;Central City Precinct
The precinct covers 18 square miles with a population of 91,500.
;Maryvale-Estrella Mountain Precinct
The precinct covers 75 square miles with a population of 304,546. Effective October 20, 2014, the Maryvale Precinct and Estrella Mountain Precinct combined to form the Maryvale Estrella Mountain Precinct.
;South Mountain Precinct
The precinct covers 115.0 square miles with a population of 271,785.

Rank structure

TitleInsignia
Chief of Police
Executive Assistant Chief
Assistant Chief
Commander
Lieutenant
Sergeant
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
Field Training Officer

Resources

Transportation

;Cruisers
The Phoenix Police Department uses Ford Crown Victorias and Chevrolet Impalas for the newer cruisers.
;SUV
The Phoenix Police Department uses Chevrolet Tahoes for their SUVs.
;Motorcycles
The motorcycle division uses Honda ST1300P Motorcycles, Kawasaki 1000 Motorcycles, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Aviation

;Helicopters
The department uses three AgustaWestland A119 helicopters.
They also fly five Eurocopter AS350 B3's and an AgustaWestland A109 Power for rescues.
;Airplanes
The department also uses a Pilatus PC-12. This aircraft is intended for surveillance, but also serves as a transport.
Additionally, the Air Support Unit has three Cessna aircraft; one 1978 182Q, one 1981 172P and a P210R.

Sidearm

Phoenix Police Officers will typically be armed with a Glock pistol usually in either.40 S&W or 9mm. The Glock 21.45 ACP is also authorized.

Controversies