Phoenix Residents Meet Four Finalists Competing for Police Chief Position

Phoenix residents attended a forum where police chief candidates articulated their visions for the future of the department.

PHOENIX — On Tuesday night at the Phoenix City Council chambers, four finalists for the position of police chief presented their plans and perspectives, engaging with community members and addressing pressing police department challenges. Each candidate responded to questions posed by residents, making their cases for leadership within the Phoenix Police Department.

The group includes a mix of candidates, both from within the department and outside it:

Michael Sullivan, currently serving as interim chief, showcased his extensive experience.
“I’m the only candidate that you will hear from tonight who has been a police chief, so what you hear from me tonight will reflect my past actions,” he asserted.

Ed DeCastro, an assistant chief at Phoenix PD, stressed the importance of training as a remedy for departmental challenges.
“If we train everybody initially up front, we will have fewer problems on the back end,” he explained.

Casey Johnson, a deputy chief from Oakland PD, shared his vision of enhancing the department’s effectiveness, referencing the history of oversight that his current department has been under.
“My vision for the Phoenix Police Department is truly to become the best versions of ourselves,” he emphasized.

Ed Wessing, an assistant chief from Mesa PD and the only external candidate from Arizona, raised concerns about staffing issues.
“Retention and hiring are first and foremost. Quite frankly, I think we’re in a crisis here in the city of Phoenix,” he stated.

One of the critical discussions involved the ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which alleges excessive force and civil rights violations by the Phoenix PD. The department has not yet agreed to independent oversight, despite the DOJ’s request.

The future of this investigation remains uncertain, especially after the Trump administration’s pause on DOJ investigations in January. Candidates expressed varying opinions on how potential federal oversight would affect the department’s operations.

“The ideas that came out of it are making us better, and I think that we will be a better police department because of those,” said DeCastro. Johnson noted, “I’ve been under oversight my entire career; I can tell you that oversight has both positive and negative effects.” Sullivan added, “Regardless of what the outcome of this DOJ investigation is, we remain focused on continuous improvement.” Wessing concluded, “There is room for reform, and I do believe Phoenix is in a position to lead nationally in efforts to reform the daily operations of public safety.”

Looking ahead, the candidates broadly agreed on key issues, particularly concerning skepticism about DOJ oversight, the need for enhanced hiring practices, and the importance of improving officer morale.

Aiming for transparency, the city plans to announce its final decision regarding the new police chief in April.