Interim police chief begins Monday

Steven Stahl, current commander of the Mesa Police Department, will begin on Monday as interim police chief of Maricopa, City Manager Brenda Fischer said today.

Stahl’s appointment is a temporary reassignment from his duties with the Mesa Police Department made possible through a professional services agreement between the two municipalities.

Police Chief Patrick Melvin is retiring tomorrow.

“The city is appreciative of this collaborative gesture from the city of Mesa,” Fischer said. “Through this, the city is receiving a highly qualified interim police chief whose background and experience will be vital during this transition. We are very excited to welcome Stahl to the organization and the community.”

Stahl has been with Mesa for more than 24 years serving in various leadership positions. He holds a bachelor’s degree from South Dakota State and a master’s degree  from Northern Arizona University. He is also a graduate from the Northwestern Command School. He is an instructor on Leadership in Police Organizations with Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board and the International Association of the Chiefs of Police.

Stahl has had five assignments as part of the department leadership in Mesa. He has overseen the crime lab, jail, two patrol districts (in which crime was reduced by double-digit percentages), Special Operations, the Gang Unit and the SWAT team. He currently serves as the commander over human resources which, in addition to HR, includes the communications division consisting of 911 and dispatch services.

Mesa Police Chief Frank Milstead said he has full confidence in Stahl’s vision and leadership abilities as he takes on this new role in Maricopa.