Search for city’s first police chief “nabs” 23 applicants to date

Maricopa is looking for its first Chief of Police, and today was the deadline for individuals to submit their applications for that post. The Public Safety Advisory Committee learned at their meeting this week that there are 23 applicants, one of them a woman, from all over the country, including Metro Phoenix.

Carroll Buracker & Associates was hired by the city to complete the search and bring a pool of only the most qualified candidates back to the city and, ultimately, to an interview committee. City Manager Rick Buss told the Public Safety group, “The level of candidates is very encouraging; ten of them really stand out.” He explained that Buracker was doing reference checks and putting the final candidates through a testing process.

The Public Safety Committee is still waiting to hear what part their two representatives, retired Newport Beach, California, Police Chief Arb Campbell and Lieutenant Scott Elliott of the local Sheriff’s Office, will play in the selection process. Campbell noted that neither council members nor the city manager should serve on the interview committee since the new chief will be hired by the city manager. He added, “We don’t want the police chief feeling that council has power over him.”

Committee member Carl Diedrich noted, “Carroll Buracker has a very streamlined approach, but it is certainly not the only philosophy out there.”

The organizational structure for the Maricopa Police Department, also created by Buracker & Associates, is based on three population projections, the first for 25,000-49,000 residents. A second projection uses a population of 50,000 while the third structure would serve a city of 100,000.

“The city,” indicated Buss, speaking of the budget needed for these proposals, “runs on consensus management. We try to look forward, then back in.”

Public Safety Advisory Committee members (left to right) Vice-Mayor Brent Murphree, Cindy Inskeep, Joe Trujillo, Carl Diedrich and Arb Campbell.

Parking
Although the city-parking ordinance is still under review by the committee, one issue that arose was the need to add parking restrictions to Special Events Permits. The sheriff’s office also needs to be made aware of various events in order to provide support for potential parking problems and to prevent accidental injury to children or citizens attending those events.

Graffiti
When Maricopa was first incorporated, no ordinance was issued regarding graffiti. According to committee chair and Vice-Mayor Brent Murphree, “The onus was on developers and business owners.” The present need for an actual ordinance was discussed.

Animal Control
Since the Animal Control officer comes from Arizona City, it takes some time for him to get to Maricopa; therefore, residents may feel that their calls are not being answered in a timely manner. A suggestion was made that perhaps contracted services for an Animal Control officer in Maricopa would alleviate the time delay problem.

Illegal Immigration
Illegal immigrants are still traveling to and through Maricopa. Unfortunately, the Border Patrol is not in Maricopa. By the time they arrive from Casa Grande, the problem may no longer exist. For the local sheriff’s deputies it is a detention issue; illegals cannot be held for any length of time without being charged. If a resident wishes to report illegal immigrant activity, they should call Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.

Maricopa Drug Prevention Coalition
The first coalition for the prevention of local drug use, specifically methamphetamines, is being organized. At its first meeting on May 11 approximately 25 stakeholders will form a steering committee and an action plan.

Emergency Plan
The city’s emergency plan, directed by Management Assistant Danielle Casey, is being formulated. Spearheaded by the Maricopa Fire Department, it will also involve input from the local Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

Maricopa Fire Department
Committee Member Cindy Inskeep reported that 24 new firefighters will be hired by July 1; 90 applicants are presently being tested. The new fire station at the Alterra site should be open on July 4.

The department answered three false alarms and 10 that were cancelled in March, as well as three structure fires, eight other fires, five hazardous condition situations, three calls for public assistance and 80 emergency medical service (EMS) calls. Figures for the month of March 2005 are approximately the same, with the exception that the number of EMS calls doubled for the same month this year.

Sheriff’s Office
The Maricopa substation will be adding four new deputies in the very near future, according to department head Elliott. The added manpower will give the city coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a supervisor and two deputies on duty during each shift.

Last month deputies issued 94 citations and 181 warnings. They made 40 arrests, including 27 for misdemeanors and 13 for felonies. Deputies answered 621 calls for assistance. One particular arrest netted $9,800 worth of methamphetamines.

The next meeting of the Public Safety Advisory Committee will be on Monday, May 15, at City Hall.