Matt Giordano selected as next Phoenix Police chief after nationwide search

PHOENIX – Matt Giordano, executive director of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, will be the next Phoenix Police chief, the city announced Tuesday.

The hiring of Giordano, a former Phoenix Police officer, caps a nationwide search that at one point restarted from scratch.

“I’m honored to return to the department where my career began,” Giordano said in a press release. “I look forward to working alongside the dedicated men and women of the Phoenix Police Department and deepening partnerships with the communities we serve. Together, we will build a safer, stronger and more unified Phoenix.”

Last month, the city narrowed the search to three finalists.

Giordano got the nod over Prince George’s County (Maryland) Police Chief Malik Aziz and former DeKalb County (Georgia) Police Chief Mirtha V. Ramos in the second recruitment round.

What experience does Matt Giordano bring to Phoenix Police chief job?

Giordano was the only finalist with local experience. Before becoming executive director of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, he spent more than 20 years with the Phoenix Police Department. He retired from the force as a commander.

Giordano has over three decades of experience in law enforcement, including a stint in a leadership position with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

“This selection reflects what we heard from residents, officers and community stakeholders,” City Manager Jeff Barton, who oversaw the search, said in the release. “Matt Giordano is a respected leader with deep knowledge of policing in Phoenix, and he has earned a reputation for integrity, accountability and building trust.”

Giordano will be sworn in at a date to be determined, after background and hiring standards are completed, the city said.

“Chief Giordano has a deep understanding of law enforcement and Phoenix as well as the skills and experience to lead our great department,” Mayor Kate Gallego said in the release. “I look forward to working with him to keep our city safe and continue the reforms instituted by the City Council.”

Phoenix hasn’t had a permanent police chief in years

When Giordano takes over, he’ll be the first permanent Phoenix Police chief since Jeri Williams retired in 2022.

Michael Sullivan was hired on an interim basis to lead the department through a federal civil rights investigation. The Department of Justice issued a report last year detailing patterns of violations, but the findings were retracted in May of this year under the new administration.

The nationwide for a permanent chief started in December 2024. Sullivan, Phoenix Assistant Chief Ed DeCastro, Mesa Assistant Chief Ed Wessing and Oakland (California) Deputy Chief Casey Johnson were named finalists in March.

However, the city rebooted the recruitment process after Sullivan withdrew his name from consideration and stepped down in April.

Sullivan has since been hired as chief of the U.S. Capitol Police.

Executive Assistant Chief Dennis Orender has been filling in as acting chief since Sullivan’s departure.

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