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 and more than 1,000 support personnel. The department serves a population of more than 1.64 million and patrol almost 516 sqmi of the fifth largest city in the United States. 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 sqmi 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 6.4 sqmi, 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 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. 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. As of 2024, PPD received 41 percent of funds allocated in the city's general fund budget. 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 using lethal force and making false statements. On August 5, 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an investigation into the Phoenix Police Department and the City of Phoenix. 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.

Controversies

Structure

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

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. 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.

Patrol Division

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

Community and Support Services Division

Investigations Division

Strategic and Tactical Services Division

Management Services Division

Rank structure

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.

Resources

Transportation

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. Additionally, the Air Support Unit has three Cessna aircraft; one 1978 182Q, one 1981 172P and a P210R.

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.

Fallen Officers

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

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