Arizona Department of Public Safety

The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) is a state-level law enforcement agency with a primary function of patrolling and enforcing state laws on Arizona highways.[5] Director Heston Silbert was promoted from Deputy Director to Director in April 2020 upon the retirement of former Director Frank Milstead. Its headquarters are in Phoenix.[6]

Arizona Department of Public Safety
Patch of the Arizona DPS
Badge of an Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper
Common nameArizona Department of Public Safety
AbbreviationAZDPS [1]
Motto"Courteous Vigilance"
Agency overview
FormedJuly 1, 1969 (1969-07-01)
Employees2,071 (as of 2018) [1]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionArizona, United States
Map of Arizona DPS Jurisdiction
Size295,254 square kilometers 113,998 square miles
Population7,016,270 (2017 est.)[2]
Legal jurisdictionArizona
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters2102 West Encanto Boulevard, Phoenix, Arizona 85009, U.S.
Troopers1171 (as of 2018) [1]
Civilians900 (as of 2018) [1]
Agency executives
  • Colonel Heston Silbert, Director
  • Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Hunter, Deputy Director
  • Lieutenant Colonel Dan Lugo, Agency Support Division Assistant Director
  • Lieutenant Colonel Deston Coleman, Criminal Investigations Division Assistant Director
  • Lieutenant Colonel Jenna Mitchell, Highway Patrol Division Assistant Director
  • Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Chung, Technical Services Division Assistant Director
Parent agency[3]
Districts19 [4]
Website
www.azdps.gov

History

Following legislation in 1968, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) was established by the executive order of Arizona Governor Jack Williams on July 1, 1969. This order amalgamated 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 50-plus years of service, the department has become an organization dedicated to protecting and providing state-level law enforcement services to the public and developing partnerships with agencies sharing similar missions.

The department consists of five divisions - Office of the Director, Highway Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Technical Services and Agency Support. Together these five divisions provide 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 statewide.[7]

In 2011, the Arizona State Capitol Police department was merged with DPS, alongside the Highway Patrol Division. ASCP was responsible for the State Capitol Mall in Phoenix and the Tucson State Complex. Today the Capitol Police still exist and patrol the Capitol grounds, but they are now full DPS officers and use DPS cars, logos, and uniforms. Capitol police officers wear special Capitol Police patches on their uniforms.

The vehicles of choice for the Arizona DPS/HP are the Ford Crown Victoria with the Police Interceptor package, Ford Explorer, Ford Taurus, and the Chevy Tahoe police package SUV. The department issued weapons are, for handguns, FN Herstal FNS Long Slide chambered in .40 S&W or 9MM, or the Glock 17 Generation 5, chambered in 9MM carried with 3 or 4 17 round magazine's . For long guns, DPS uses the Patrol rifle 223 caliber Colt AR15A2 Colt M16A2 or Colt M4 supplied with 2, 30 round magazines. The 12 gauge Remington 870 shotguns are not authorized for carry and have been modified for less lethal munitions. SWAT Troopers are issued fully automatic LWRC short barreled rifles.

Rank structure
Title Insignia
Director - Colonel
Deputy Director - Lieutenant Colonel
Assistant Director - Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Captain
Sergeant
Trooper

Old ranks

The ranks of lieutenant and commander were abolished and converted to captain and major respectively in 2010. On July 24, 2015, officers officially became known as State Troopers.

Organization
  • Director
    • Deputy Director
      • Office of the Director
        • Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training
        • Budget Office
        • Governor's Office of Highway Safety
        • Executive Officer Bureau
      • Criminal Investigations Division
        • Tactical Operations Bureau
        • Investigations Bureau
        • Intelligence Bureau
        • GIITEM Enforcement Bureau
        • Border Strike Force Bureau
      • Highway Patrol Division
        • Northern Patrol Bureau
        • Metro Patrol Bureau
        • Southern Patrol Bureau
        • Special Enforcement Bureau
      • Technical Services Division
        • Criminal Justice Services Bureau
        • Licensing and Regulatory Bureau
        • Wireless Systems Bureau
        • Information Technology Bureau
        • Operational Communications Bureau
        • Scientific Analysis Bureau
      • Agency Support Division
        • Logistics Bureau
        • Management Services Bureau
        • Human Resources Bureau
        • Aviation Bureau
        • Financial Services
        • Procurement

Vehicles

Currently, the Arizona Highway Patrol uses Ford Interceptor (SUV and Car), Impala 9C1, Tahoe PPV, F-150s, and Expeditions. They do have one marked Dodge Ram Pickup. Unmarked vehicles are commonly Chargers, Challengers, Mustangs, F-150 and 250 pickups. Motorcycle units primarily consist of BMW RT-1200s.

In the past, automobile manufactures would donate cars to the department for testing. It would not be unusual to see luxury cars such as Lincoln Town Cars, Ford Thunderbirds, and others.

Highway Patrol Division

The Highway Patrol Division is divided into four bureaus, with 19 total districts and two Commercial Vehicle Enforcement areas:[4]

  • Northern Highway Patrol Bureau
  • Metro Highway Patrol Bureau
    • District 5 - Metro Central
    • District 7 - Metro Motors
    • District 13 - Metro East
    • District 14 - Metro West
    • District 18 - Metro South
    • District 19 - Night Watch Phoenix
  • Southern Highway Patrol Bureau
  • Special Enforcement Bureau
    • Hazardous Materials Squad
    • District 10 - Capitol District
    • District 15 - Commercial Vehicle Enforcement North
    • District 16 - Commercial Vehicle Enforcement South

Special Enforcement Bureau

The Special Enforcement Bureau enforces rules and regulations regarding the operation of commercial vehicles on the roads and highways of Arizona. The emphasis is on vehicle safety, driver safety, and proper authority and compliance for vehicles operating in commerce.

Criminal Investigations Division (CID)

There are five bureaus within the Criminal Investigations Division:

  • Tactical Operations Bureau
  • Investigations Bureau
  • Intelligence Bureau
  • GIITEM Enforcement Bureau
  • Border Strike Force Bureau

Office of the Director

The Office of the Director provides assistance to the Arizona Department of Public Safety through administrative services such as crime victim services, management services promoting efficiency of government, public relations, research and planning, legal services, investigation of employee misconduct, internal and external management audits, and coordination of financial and human resource services. Additionally the Office of the Director provides support to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, and the Law Enforcement Merit System Council.[8]

Technical Services (TSD)

The Technical Services Division develops and coordinates scientific, technical, regulatory, and support services by providing scientific analysis and criminal justice support to Arizona's criminal justice agencies. TSD also develops, operates, and maintains the data processing and data/voice communications systems statewide and operates facilities management and logistical support.

There are six bureaus within the Technical Services Division:

  • Criminal Justice Services Bureau
  • Licensing and Regulatory Bureau
  • Wireless Systems Bureau
  • Information Technology Bureau
  • Operational Communications Bureau
  • Scientific Analysis Bureau

Agency Support (ASD)

The Agency Support Division (ASD) exists to support the mission critical units of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The Agency Support Division provides support and management services that promote government efficiency, contemporary research and planning, legal services, coordination of financial and human resource services, records and public records services, department training, cost effective facilities management, innovative logistical support, and provides statewide aviation support.

There are six main areas within the Agency Support Division:

  • Logistics Bureau
  • Management Services Bureau
  • Human Resources Bureau
  • Aviation Bureau
  • Financial Services
  • Procurement

Demographics

As of July 2018 (Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number):[1]

Sworn StaffProfessional StaffOverall
Male96%47%72%
Female4%53%27%
White78%77%78%
African American2%5%3%
Hispanic18%14%16%
Asian/Pacific Islander1%4%2%
Native American1%1%1%
Age 40+54%70%62%

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, 30 troopers and 4 K9s have died while on duty.[9] The agency, along with the Arizona Highway Patrol Association, remembers each fallen officer at an annual memorial ceremony on the first Monday of May.[10]

See also

References
  1. https://www.azdps.gov/about
  2. "Arizona: Population estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. July 1, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  3. https://www.azdps.gov/colonel/staff
  4. https://www.azdps.gov/organization/HPD/info
  5. https://www.azdps.gov/about/history
  6. "CONTACT INFORMATION Archived 2010-12-28 at the Wayback Machine." Arizona Department of Public Safety. Retrieved on January 9, 2011. "Physical Address 2102 W Encanto Blvd Phoenix, AZ 85009"
  7. https://www.azdps.gov/organization
  8. https://www.azdps.gov/organization/directors-office
  9. The Officer Down Memorial Page
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-03-20. Retrieved 2015-02-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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