Retired commander selected as Tempe’s temporary police chief

PHOENIX – Tempe is turning to a retired commander to fill its police chief position on a temporary basis.

Tempe City Manager Andrew Ching selected Jeff Glover, who retired in February after 20 years with the department, as interim police chief for one year beginning Oct. 12.

Glover will be the East Valley city’s first Black police chief when he steps in for Sylvia Moir, who submitted her resignation last week.

“It’s something that I really embrace,” Glover told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “I am just so looking forward to being able to serve the community that I love.”

Glover started his police career as a Mesa patrol officer in 1998 and joined the Tempe force the next year.

His duties included four years as commander over the department’s Professional Standards Bureau, Organizational Services Division, Criminal/Special Investigations and SWAT, according to the release.

“Jeff is a consummate professional who has impressive public safety credentials and experience, is well respected by residents and peers, and has a unique ability to collaborate and bring people together,” Ching, who has the sole authority to hire a police chief under the city charter and will lead the search for a permanent replacement, said a press release.

“I look forward to working with him and seeing what he brings to the Tempe Police Department.”

Ching said last week the decision to change chiefs came following a series of conversations around the need to resurrect the structure of the city when it comes to race, policing in America, social justice, systemic racism and other issues.

“I feel like new leadership is needed to do a lot of the things that need to be done in the next weeks, months and even years with policing in Tempe,” he told KTAR News at the time.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ali Vetnar contributed to this report.

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