Arizona Department of Public Safety
Encyclopedia
Arizona Department of Public Safety is a law enforcement agency
with its usual focus being protection of all Arizona
highways. The current Director is Robert C. Halliday, a previously retired DPS commander, who began his 5-year term in February 2010. Its headquarters are in Phoenix
.
was established by the executive order of Arizona Governor Jack Williams
on July 1, 1969. This mandate consolidated the functions and responsibilities of the Arizona Highway Patrol, the Law Enforcement Division of the state Department of Liquor Licenses and Control and the Narcotics Division of the state Department of Law.
In its 30-plus years of sustained progress and service, the Department has accepted many additional responsibilities and has become a multi-faceted organization dedicated to protecting and providing state-level law enforcement services to the public while developing and maintaining close partnerships with other agencies sharing similar missions.
The Department consists of three divisions - Highway Patrol
, Criminal Investigations
, Technical Services. Together these three divisions provide an immense and extensive range of vital scientific, technical, operational and regulatory services to Arizona residents and to the state's criminal justice community;one of the more famous subdivisions of the Criminal Investigations Division is the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission task force (better known as "GIITEM"), which was formed to combat the growing gang infestation problems mainly in Maricopa County (the Phoenix area), even though their jurisdiction is (like the AZ/HP) statewide.
The vehicle of choice for the Arizona DPS/HP is the Ford Crown Victoria with the Police Interceptor package
, and the Chevy Tahoe police package SUV. Their department issue weapons are, for handguns, Sig Sauer P226 chambered in .40 S&W
(or the alternative issue Sig Sauer P229 in 40 S&W), for long guns, the Patrol rifle 223 caliber Colt AR15A2
Colt M16A2 or Colt M4 supplied with fifteen 30 round magazines and the 12 gauge
Remington 870
shotguns.
Enforcement Bureau is responsible for the enforcement of all rules and regulations pertaining to the safe operation of commercial vehicles on the roads and highways of Arizona. The primary emphasis is on vehicle safety, driver safety, and proper authority and compliance for vehicles operating in commerce.
The CID is also responsible for the protection of the Governor and provides specialized High Risk Response to acts of extraordinary violence and domestic preparedness incidents.
There are five bureaus within the Criminal Investigations Division:
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
with its usual focus being protection of all Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
highways. The current Director is Robert C. Halliday, a previously retired DPS commander, who began his 5-year term in February 2010. Its headquarters are in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
History
Pursuant to legislation in 1968, the Arizona Department of Public SafetyDepartment of Public Safety
The Department of Public Safety , also called an Office of Public Safety, is a state or local government umbrella agency in the United States which serves to assist the certain agencies in their services by providing administrative, financial, and technical services and support for core public...
was established by the executive order of Arizona Governor Jack Williams
Jack Richard Williams
John Richard Williams , a dedicated political conservative, was a radio announcer, advertising writer, mayor of Phoenix, and the 13th governor of Arizona...
on July 1, 1969. This mandate consolidated the functions and responsibilities of the Arizona Highway Patrol, the Law Enforcement Division of the state Department of Liquor Licenses and Control and the Narcotics Division of the state Department of Law.
In its 30-plus years of sustained progress and service, the Department has accepted many additional responsibilities and has become a multi-faceted organization dedicated to protecting and providing state-level law enforcement services to the public while developing and maintaining close partnerships with other agencies sharing similar missions.
The Department consists of three divisions - Highway Patrol
Highway patrol
A highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.Duties of highway patrols or traffic...
, Criminal Investigations
Criminal Investigation Division
Criminal Investigation Division may be:* United States Army Criminal Investigation Division, now the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command*IRS Criminal Investigation Division-See also:*United States Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division...
, Technical Services. Together these three divisions provide an immense and extensive range of vital scientific, technical, operational and regulatory services to Arizona residents and to the state's criminal justice community;one of the more famous subdivisions of the Criminal Investigations Division is the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission task force (better known as "GIITEM"), which was formed to combat the growing gang infestation problems mainly in Maricopa County (the Phoenix area), even though their jurisdiction is (like the AZ/HP) statewide.
The vehicle of choice for the Arizona DPS/HP is the Ford Crown Victoria with the Police Interceptor package
Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
Though the name has been officially in use since 1992, the 1978–1991 full-size LTDs and LTD Crown Victorias and 1992 updated body style used the "P72" production code designation for both fleet/taxi and police models, with the model itself being internally classified as S...
, and the Chevy Tahoe police package SUV. Their department issue weapons are, for handguns, Sig Sauer P226 chambered in .40 S&W
.40 S&W
The .40 S&W is a rimless pistol cartridge developed jointly by major American firearms manufacturers Winchester and Smith & Wesson. The .40 S&W was developed from the ground up as a law enforcement cartridge designed to duplicate performance of the FBI's reduced velocity 10mm cartridge which could...
(or the alternative issue Sig Sauer P229 in 40 S&W), for long guns, the Patrol rifle 223 caliber Colt AR15A2
AR-15
The AR-15 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle, with a rotating-lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is manufactured with the extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials....
Colt M16A2 or Colt M4 supplied with fifteen 30 round magazines and the 12 gauge
Gauge (bore diameter)
The gauge of a firearm is a unit of measurement used to express the diameter of the barrel. Gauge is determined from the weight of a solid sphere of lead that will fit the bore of the firearm, and is expressed as the multiplicative inverse of the sphere's weight as a fraction of a pound . Thus...
Remington 870
Remington 870
The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, Inc. It is widely used by the public for sport shooting, hunting, and self-defense. It is also commonly used by law enforcement and military organizations worldwide.-Development:The Remington 870 was...
shotguns.
Rank Structure
| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Director - Colonel |  |
| Deputy Director - Lt. Colonel |  |
| Assistant Director - Lt. Colonel | |
| Major |  |
| Captain |  |
| Sergeant I,II Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... |
 |
| Officer I,II,III Police officer A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force... |
|
Old Ranks
The ranks of lieutenant and commander were abolished and converted to major and captain in 2010.Arizona Highway Patrol
The Arizona Highway Patrol is divided into 12 districts:- DISTRICT 1 - KingmanKingman, ArizonaKingman is located in a desert climate on the edge of the Mojave Desert, but its higher elevation and location between the Colorado Plateau and the Lower Colorado River Valley tempers summer high temperatures and contributes to winter cold and rare snowfall. Summer daytime highs reach above 90 °F ...
- DISTRICT 2 - FlagstaffFlagstaff, ArizonaFlagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
- DISTRICT 3 - HolbrookHolbrook, Arizona-Historical events:*During 1881 & 1882, railroad tracks were laid down and a railroad station was built. The community was then named Holbrook after the first engineer of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad...
- Metro Central - Central Phoenix - formerly District 5
- DISTRICT 4 - YumaYuma, ArizonaYuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
- DISTRICT 6 - Casa GrandeCasa Grande, ArizonaCasa Grande is a city in Pinal County, approximately halfway between Phoenix and Tucson in the U.S. state of Arizona. According to 2010 Census, the population of the city is 48,571...
- DISTRICT 7 MOTORS - Phoenix area
- DISTRICT 8 - Tucson
- DISTRICT 9 - Sierra VistaSierra Vista, ArizonaSierra Vista is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. According to 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 43,044....
- DISTRICT 11 - GlobeGlobe, ArizonaGlobe has an arid climate, characterized by hot summers and moderate to warm winters. Globe's arid climate is somewhat tempered by its elevation, however, leading to slightly cooler temperatures and slightly more precipitation than Phoenix or Yuma....
- DISTRICT 12 - PrescottPrescott, ArizonaPrescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
- Metro East - East Phoenix Valley - formerly District 13
- Metro West - West Phoenix Valley - formerly District 14
- There is no District 10 to prevent conflicts with radio 10-codes.
Aviation Bureau
The Aviation Section consists of four Air Rescue helicopter units, a fixed-wing Air Support unit, an Aircraft Maintenance unit, and administrative staff.Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
The Commercial VehicleCommercial vehicle
A commercial vehicle is a type of motor vehicle that may be used for transporting goods or passengers. The European Union defines "commercial motor vehicle" as any motorised road vehicle, which by its type of construction and equipment is designed for, and capable of transporting, whether for...
Enforcement Bureau is responsible for the enforcement of all rules and regulations pertaining to the safe operation of commercial vehicles on the roads and highways of Arizona. The primary emphasis is on vehicle safety, driver safety, and proper authority and compliance for vehicles operating in commerce.
DUI Enforcement Unit
The DUI Enforcement Unit identifies and investigates drug and alcohol impaired drivers, and provides support to Highway Patrol, local and county agencies through training and logistical support.Vehicular Crimes Unit
The Vehicular Crimes and Reconstruction Unit provides investigative expertise and expert court testimony when a vehicle is the instrumentality in a homicide .Criminal Investigation Division (CID)
The Criminal Investigations Division provides statewide investigative, specialized enforcement and high risk response support to federal, state and local criminal justice agencies. The CID conducts investigations regarding narcotic trafficking, organized crime, intelligence, vehicle theft, gangs, computer and financial crimes, as well as major crime investigations when requested by other criminal justice agencies. It also maintains and operates a state-of-the-art geographic information system (GIS) mapping center for the Department of Public Safety and makes data available to other agencies in Arizona.The CID is also responsible for the protection of the Governor and provides specialized High Risk Response to acts of extraordinary violence and domestic preparedness incidents.
There are five bureaus within the Criminal Investigations Division:
- Narcotics/Organized Crime
- Investigation
- Intelligence
- Gang Enforcement (GITEM)
- Rocky Mountain Information Network (RMIN).
Office of the Director
The Office of the Director provides critical assistance to the Arizona Department of Public Safety through administrative services such as crime victim services, management services promoting efficiency of government, pro-active media relations, contemporary research and planning, legal services, investigation of employee misconduct, internal and external management audits, coordination of financial and human resource services.Technical Services (TSD)
The Technical Services Division is responsible for developing and coordinating scientific, technical, regulatory and support services by providing scientific analysis and criminal justice support to Arizona’s criminal justice agencies. CJSD also develops, operates, and maintains the data processing and data/voice communications systems statewide and operates facilities management and innovative logistical support.Demographics
- Male: 92%
- Female: 8%
- White: 82%
- Hispanic: 14%
- Native American:2%
- African-American/Black: 1%
- Asian: 1%
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, 28 officers and 1 civilian have died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Officer Louis O. Cochran | |
Vehicular assault |
| Officer Paul E. Marston | |
Gunfire |
| Officer Gilbert A. Duthie | |
Drowned |
| Officer James L. Keeton | |
Gunfire |
| Officer Don A. Beckstead | |
Gunfire |
| Officer Alan H. Hansen | |
Explosion |
| Officer Gregory A. Diley | |
Automobile accident |
| Officer Noah Mack Merrill Jr. | |
Struck by vehicle |
| Officer John C. Walker | |
Gunfire |
| Officer William H. Murie | |
Struck by vehicle |
| Officer/Pilot Thomas P. McNeff | |
Aircraft accident |
| Officer/Paramedic Richard G. Stratman | |
Aircraft accident |
| Officer Bruce A. Petersen | |
Automobile accident |
| Officer Edward A. Rebel | |
Gunfire |
| Officer Johnny E. Garcia | |
Automobile accident |
| Sergeant John M. Blaser | |
Vehicular assault |
| Officer David George Gabrielli | |
Vehicular assault |
| Sergeant Manuel Hurtado Tapia | |
Gunfire |
| Sergeant David Jon Zesiger | |
Vehicular assault |
| Sergeant Mark Maynard Dryer | |
Vehicular assault |
| Sergeant Michael L. Crowe | |
Gunfire |
| Officer Robert K. Martin | |
Gunfire |
| Officer Douglas Edward Knutson | |
Struck by vehicle |
| Officer Juan Nieblas Cruz | |
Vehicular assault |
| Officer Floyd James Fink Jr. | |
Vehicular assault |
| Officer Brett C. Buckmister | |
Automobile accident |
| Officer/Paramedic Bruce Wesley Harrolle | |
Aircraft accident |
| Officer Chris Marano | |
Struck by vehicle |
| Civilian Pilot Matthew Uhl | |
Automobile accident |
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Arizona
- State policeState policeState police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
- State patrol
- Highway patrolHighway patrolA highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.Duties of highway patrols or traffic...