Town of Queen Creek considers starting its own police department

PHOENIX – Queen Creek will hold a community meeting to seek the public’s input about creating a police force for the town.

The community meeting Feb. 6 at the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center at 6 p.m. will discuss the future of the town’s police services.

The Town Council met in December to discuss a Law Enforcement study that provided options for the town’s police situation. In order to make an informed decision, the council asked staff to get community input over 60 days beginning in January.

The study evaluated three possibilities: maintaining a contract with Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, contracting with another law enforcement entity or starting the town’s own police force.

Currently, MCSO is the town’s sole law enforcement provider; however, the study said that MCSO has experienced challenges when it comes to filling positions.

It also stated MCSO has a “limited capacity” to meet with the town on community policing initiatives.

The study advised that if the current level of service with MCSO is acceptable, then the town should continue utilizing that service, but if the town continues to steadily grow, Queen Creek should consider other options. It noted the town is growing 6-10% each year and currently has 52,000 residents.

According to town, the funds for a police department would come from the existing public safety tax revenues and growth in the operating budget, but taxes would not be increased for the project.

The department’s staff would include 55 officers and a chief of police.

When it comes to services that aren’t used on a daily basis, like jail, court, dispatch, SWAT and K9, the town would enter into an intergovernmental agreement.

If Queen Creek decided to implement a police department, it would take about 18 months to complete, according to the study.

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