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New Phoenix Police Chief

March 29, 2012

The nationwide search for a new Phoenix Police Chief has come to a close. Daniel V. Garcia is the first top officer to be hired from outside the city’s police force in a generation. Previously an assistant chief in Dallas, Garcia had spent his complete 34 year career with the Dallas Police Department. During his broad career in Dallas, Garcia worked in nearly every area of the Dallas Police Department including patrol, operations, airport police, firearms instructor, detective, homeland security, internal affairs and personnel, detention services and the legal unit.

Garcia was among four candidates that were in the running for Police Chief in order to replace former Chief Jack Harris, who had resigned in April due to contentious issues. City Manager David Cavazos named Garcia as the Phoenix Police Chief on Monday and said he was selected to lead the Phoenix Police Department because of his leadership philosophy and a track record of success. I’m sure Garcia’s bio was an important factor as well.

His background in community policing encourages officers to work with community members. “I want the community to understand they have a voice with the new chief of police,” Garcia said on Monday. He also stated that he wanted his officers to take the same approach, “I want them to be just as involved as I am. As a matter of fact, I’ll demand that of them.” Garcia will begin his new position in May.

Tell us what you think. Did the city of Phoenix make the right decision of hiring someone outside the ranks of the police force? Will Phoenix Police actually become more involved with the community now that they have a Chief that has a background of community policing?