West Valley suburb searching for new police leader after chief says he’s retiring

PHOENIX – A West Valley suburb is searching for a new police chief.

Surprise Police Chief Benny Piña recently announced his intention to retire on May 2 after nearly four years on the job.

Piña was deputy chief in neighboring Peoria when Surprise hired him to be its chief in May 2021.

Before joining the Peoria Police Department in 2014, he served for 25 years with the Phoenix Police Department.

During his tenure in Surprise, Piña advocated for the city’s first police substation and helped advance a future Real Time Crime Center.

Who will serve as interim Surprise police chief?

Assistant Chief Charles Morin will take over the department on an interim basis until the city makes a permanent hire.

Morin joined the force in October 2021 after more than two decades with the Phoenix Police Department. He oversees the daily operations of all five Surprise Police Department divisions.

Surprise isn’t the only Valley city looking for a new police chief.

Phoenix reopened its nationwide search after interim Chief Michael Sullivan withdrew his candidacy for the permanent position this week and stepped down.

In addition, the Scottsdale Police Department has been operating under an interim chief since a January city leadership shakeup.

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