ARIZONA NEWS

Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan updates on crime reduction plan, DOJ investigation

Aug 14, 2023, 4:35 AM | Updated: 3:17 pm

PHOENIX — It’s been a busy summer for the Phoenix Police Department.

Chief Michael Sullivan joined KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Friday and gave updates on the new crime reduction plan, Department of Justice Investigation and staffing.

Here’s what he had to say:

Q: There’s been kind of a mixed bag of some crimes went up a little bit, others dropped down. Do you attribute that to the new focus on the crime reduction plan? Is that part of why this is
happening?

A: The men and women of the Phoenix Police Department are focused on making sure that we drive down crime. Our first six months, I’m encouraged and we have momentum despite all the challenges we have with staffing. We’re making good progress.

Q: How are the officers, the people that are in the field, how do they feel about this plan?

A: What I can tell you is as officers, we like being pointed on what we’re expected to do. They like having a plan. They like we joined to help keep people safe. Having direction in that area is something that’s always appreciated. And that’s some appreciation that I’ve had officers come up and tell me directly.

Q: Can you give us an update on where this Department of Justice investigation is? And do you see any light at the end of the tunnel for this being over soon?

A: That’s a good question for the Department of Justice is what I tell everybody when I get that question. But it’s gone on for two years. We just passed the two-year date of this investigation. What I can tell you is how we’ve cooperated throughout the investigation, providing over 20,000 body worn videos — imagine the hours with that 80,000 documents — over 200 hours of ride-alongs and then over 100 interviews with our employees.

We had some challenges at the beginning being able to provide information because we required the Department of Justice to follow the rules that are out there with criminal justice-protected information, we offered several solutions that they turned down. Eventually we got to a spot to be able to share that information and the pandemic put us back several months. But I think we’re at the point that we’re starting to wrap up.

Q: As far as staffing and recruiting goes, are you on the rise as far as recruiting and retention? Do you see that the Phoenix Police Department as far as size is going in the right direction?

A: I would love to say that there’s an explosion. We’re doing better than we were last year. We’re about 2% down at the staffing level where we were at the same time last year and that number is shrinking. There’s more people in the academy today than there was this time last year. But it’s going to be a very, very slow process as we begin to do that. That’s why it’s important for us to bring on additional professional staff like civilian investigators and crime analysts to be able to augment what we do.

Q: Do you recruit in other places to try to get those officers to come to Phoenix?

A: I’m glad you asked that question because about a month ago, we had an officer from Seattle who came down here and came on as a civilian investigator who saw what the Phoenix Police Department was like, saw the culture here said, ‘I want to be a sworn officer again’ after a full career up in Seattle. So, we have seen that.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona News

Two Arizona Department of Economic Security Employees were convicted of receiving bribes to approv...

David Veenstra

2 state employees convicted of receiving bribes

Two Arizona Department of Economic Security Employees were convicted of receiving bribes to approve unemployment insurance claims.

7 hours ago

pay raise for troopers Arizona Department of Public Safety 2025...

Serena O'Sullivan

Katie Hobbs says DPS troopers, who seized 2,647 pounds of fentanyl pills last year, deserve 5% raise

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs reiterated her desire to institute a pay raise for troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety on Tuesday.

8 hours ago

FILE - This undated booking photo provided by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation...

David Veenstra

Arizona Supreme Court grants request to carry out state’s 1st execution since 2022

The Arizona Supreme Court granted a request to carry out the state's first execution since 2022, authorities announced on Tuesday.

10 hours ago

An Arizona woman pleaded guilty in a fraud scheme that generated millions of dollars for herself an...

David Veenstra

Arizona woman pleads guilty in fraud scheme that benefited North Korea

An Arizona woman pleaded guilty in a fraud scheme that generated millions of dollars for herself and for North Korea. 

11 hours ago

A retired deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was convicted of luring a minor i...

David Veenstra

Retired LA deputy convicted of luring a minor in Arizona

A retired deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was convicted of luring a minor in Arizona, authorities announced on Tuesday.

12 hours ago

Man shot in head in Tempe...

KTAR.com

Man shot in head in Tempe trying to drive himself to hospital crashes into vehicles

A man who was shot in the head and attempting to drive himself to the hospital crashed into two vehicles on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

14 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Collins Comfort Masters: Your go-to plumbing experts in Arizona

Collins Comfort Masters, a trusted name in HVAC, water and plumbing since 1985, is you go-to plumbers for the residents of Phoenix and the Valley.

...

Sanderson Ford

Sanderson Ford’s Operation Santa Claus: Spreading holiday cheer through pickleball

Phoenix, AZ – Sanderson Ford, a staple in the Arizona community, is once again gearing up for its annual Operation Santa Claus charity drive.

...

Schwartz Laser Eye Center

Don’t miss the action with this game-changing procedure

PHOENIX -- The clear lens exchange procedure has emerged as a popular alternative to LASIK eye surgery.

Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan updates on crime reduction plan, DOJ investigation