Paradise Valley police chief steps down, in-house successor to begin in early December

PHOENIX – Paradise Valley officials didn’t have to go far to find a successor to Police Chief Peter Wingert – they promoted from within.

The town announced Commander Freeman Carney would take over the police department effective Dec. 10.

Wingert turned in his resignation to pursue what the post on the town’s website called a “national policy position.”

“I’m excited and humbled by the opportunity to be following Chief Wingert as chief of police,” Carney said in the post.

“Chief Pete has set a very high bar and has been a strong leader for the force and the community.”

Carney has been with force for 11 years, after nearly six years with the Avondale Police Department.

He replaces a man who is credited with developing an accredited agency and leading the department through some extremely challenging times, Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner said.

Before Wingert was named to the position in Paradise Valley, he spent four years running the Wickenburg Police Department.

All told, Wingert has been in law enforcement for 31 years.

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