Message from Chief Rodriguez
The Goodyear Police Department’s annual report is just one more tool that we use to provide information about the department to the community we serve. This report includes information about community policing programs, Goodyear crime statistics, staffing, budget, projects, progress and accomplishments. It is my distinct pleasure to present the Goodyear Police Department’s Fiscal Year 21/22 annual report.
Integrity
Be consistent, trustworthy and transparent
Adaptability
Be a champion, purposeful and connected
Empathy Empathy
Be respectful, kind and aware
Top Priorities are:
Public Safety and safety of the members of the department
Initiative Initiative
Be a leader, proactive and a problem solver
Optimism Optimism
Be hopeful, resilient and positive
Innovation Innovation
Be resourceful, progressive and curious
Excellence in customer service
Professionalism
Advanced Training - prepared to meet the needs of the community
A Glance at Goodyear
Welcome home to Goodyear, where sunshine abounds for over 300 days a year! The city is rapidly growing and welcoming many new businesses, restaurants and recreational opportunities. We celebrated the grand opening of the new 30 acre Goodyear Recreation Campus, which encourages a healthy and fit lifestyle for our residents and many activities in which the community can partake.
The 2021 Community Satisfaction Survey results are in and 98% of residents say they feel safe in their neighborhoods, while 9 in 10 residents would recommend living in Goodyear.
101,662 population
37.8 median age
780 full-time employees
$332,700 median home value $85,147 median household income
188.5 police personnel (135 sworn)
146.5 fire personnel (125 sworn) and seven fire stations
800 city volunteers
38,997 total housing units
1,136 miles of roadways
19 city parks; 46 miles of trails
10,311-seat ballpark
Table of Contents
Office of the Chief
Chief of Police Santiago Rodriguez is the final authority in all matters of departmental policy, operations, and discipline. The chief of police provides leadership and administration of police-related services and is accountable to the executive management of the city. The office ensures:
Enforcement of all laws and city ordinances, prevention of crime and protection of life and property
Development of department strategic goals and objectives
Organizational management of all plans, activities, and department functions
Coordination of the city’s law enforcement activities with other law enforcement agencies and city administrative staff
Development and management of department planning documents, policies, procedures, directives and general orders
Timely and accurate preparation and administration of the police department’s operating budget and development of strategies that will ensure fiscal responsibility in carrying out effective law enforcement/policing programs
Grant Coordination
To offset potential resource shortfalls in the city’s general fund, the Office of the Chief staff works in conjunction with the city’s grants manager to seek local, state, and federal grants, receiving a total of $305,000 in funding.
The division works to obtain the funding as well as ensuring that all grant requirements are completed and reported in a timely manner. In addition, the division provides executive support through acting liaisons with other departments and agencies as needed.
Professional Standards Division
Chip Kirk is the lieutenant over Goodyear Police Department’s Professional Standards. The division encompasses three units which include the Training Unit, Hiring and Recruiting Unit, and the Internal Affairs Unit.
Internal Affairs Unit
Chip Kirk is the lieutenant over the Goodyear Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit. The unit operates directly under the authority of the Office of the Chief. The goal is to ensure that the integrity of the department is maintained through a fair, thorough and timely system of internal investigations that are conducted in accordance with accepted department and city policies and procedures.
It is common for police departments to receive both complaints and compliments from residents about their employees. Most complaints are handled by means of a public education process where the department provides insight into the rationale behind officer actions and takes advantage of all opportunities to resolve resident issues at the lowest level through dialogue. Some of these complaints are handled as inquiries only, where additional details are gathered about the alleged misconduct in order to determine whether the assertions require a full administrative investigation.
5
There were a total of 28 vehicle accidents during FY22.
Media Relations Office
Lisa Berry is the Public Information Officer for the Goodyear Police Department. The Media Relations Office reports directly to the Chief of Police and is the liaison between the police department and the community, often through the media and social media.
The PIO responds to crisis incidents, reporting updates to the community through local news media as well as on department social media platforms. We understand the importance of reaching out to our community with important safety information, alerts, and bulletins, as well as highlighting the great work of the department. Social media is a vital tool in achieving this goal. Regular postings of photos, videos and crime and injury prevention tips, has contributed to the success of our social media platforms. During FY22, the Goodyear Police Department grew its social media audiences significantly. In addition, the PIO serves as emcee for large scale police department and city-wide events such as the city Volunteer Appreciation Event, police department awards ceremonies and the YANA Chat and Chew events.
Statistics
10.12% 27,432
INCREASE FOLLOWERS
Highlights
6,852
13.27% INCREASE in number of followers reached
9,397
number of followers reached.
The media relations office works to highlight the many accomplishments of the department and the great work of its members by pitching good news stories and crime prevention stories to the media and securing news coverage. In addition, the PIO writes articles on crime and injury prevention for the city and local publications.
One of the highlights of our year is the Goodyear Police Department’s Teen Academy. Each summer, teens ages 14-18 who are interested in law enforcement as a career, are invited to attend a week-long academy teaching them about the various units within the police department.
Administrative Services Manager
The Administrative Services Division is managed by Caroline Ruiz. It provides all manner of operational support for the police department, including management of all department budgets, coordination of the annual budget process and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects, procurement and contracts management, internal HR/payroll functions, department performance measures, special projects for the Chief of Police and Command Staff, and general administrative support. In addition, the division provides executive support through acting as liaisons with other departments and agencies as needed.
Statistics
Accomplishments
23%
Coordinated the annual budget process, including over $2.2 million of supplemental funding for new positions and equipment.
of the city’s General Fund budget — the largest department budget.
80% 1 2 3
Managed purchase orders totaling over $3.4 million.
OF THE DEPT. BUDGET COVERS PERSONNEL COSTS.
Worked with Finance and Human Resources departments to optimize reporting as part of the Continuous Improvement project.
Quartermaster / Inventory Management
The Quartermaster function is also housed within Administrative Services. The basic responsibility of the Quartermaster is to support the infrastructure of the police department’s day-to-day operations related to supplies/equipment procurement and dissemination, inventory, equipment maintenance, and asset tracking. Currently, the position is handled by a full-time, professional staff member who regularly analyzes inventory levels and recommends purchase of stock items, enters procurement card transactions and purchase requisitions to order items for the warehouse, and tracks the purchasing process to ensure specifications of contract and/or purchase orders are met.
Field Operations Bureau
The Field Operations Bureau is led by Deputy Chief of Police
David Farrow and is the largest component of the Goodyear Police Department. This Bureau is comprised of Patrol and Specialized Enforcement (Traffic Unit, Community Services Unit, School Resource Officer Unit, K9 Unit, and Homeless Outreach Team).
Patrol Division
Patrol is directed at the prevention of criminal acts, apprehension of criminal offenders, traffic violations and collisions, the maintenance of public order, and the discovery of hazardous situations or conditions. The division continually operates under the tenets of Community Orientated Policing and also engages in problem solving activities such as citizen assists and individual citizen contacts of a positive nature. All supervisors, officers and police assistants share information through daily patrol briefings which occur at the beginning of each shift. These briefings provide patrol personnel with information relative to daily activity, new training bulletins, crime trends, unusual occurrences, and any other relevant information.
Statistics
58,055 RESPONDED TO CALLS FOR SERVICE
4:20
Officer response time for Priority 1 calls MINUTES AVERAGE
The Patrol Division is assigned to monitor and patrol jurisdictional areas of Goodyear, respond to calls for service, act as a deterrent to crime, enforce state and local laws, and respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Average monthly call volume 10,048
The division consists of three squads per day, patrolling the city, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. There are four patrol lieutenants, known as watch commanders, responsible for each patrol shift. The watch commanders are the highest ranking official in the absence of the chief of police and deputy chiefs, and are authorized to act on their behalf if necessary. While on duty, they are responsible for the orderly operation of the police department, and direction of activities in a manner that is consistent with department policies, procedures, practices, functions, and objectives.
Watch Commanders Duties Include:
Attend squad briefings providing input or guidance as needed
Verify the patrol schedule is accurate and updated as needed and make necessary calls to the appropriate off duty personnel for call-outs
Respond to all priority 1 calls, priority 2 calls when possible, or calls that will likely have a need for a watch commander’s oversight
Complete major incident notification
Ensure that timesheets are accurate and timely
Complete essential functions as needed for effective police operations
Ensure policy compliance and provide suggestions to improve existing policy and standard operating procedures
Maintain an operating budget for their squads
Individual patrol squads are supervised by a shift sergeant. Each sergeant has management responsibility for the officers and police assistants on their squad, including the supervision and delegation of individual responsibilities and assignments. In the absence of the watch commander, the patrol sergeant also ensures that major incident notification is completed as necessary. The sergeant has discretion over the assignment of the officers to each patrol district and may consider such factors as prior district assignment, officer experience levels and special qualifications such as bilingual skills. As patrol supervisors, each sergeant must ensure that their officers are fully informed of areas in their respective district that need preventative patrol and must ensure that such locations are checked on a timely basis during each shift. Sergeants are often considered the most crucial assignment in the department, as they are the first-line supervisor, they are in constant contact with their teams and the public, and serve as an intermediary between line-level officers and the department administration.
Police Assistants
Police assistants are non-sworn, professional employees who support the patrol squads by performing various routine, non-sworn law enforcement duties and activities which do not require the training and status of a peace officer nor arrest authority. There are three police assistants in the patrol division. The PAs patrol assigned areas during their shift and remain alert for security issues and suspicious activity. They respond to certain types of non-emergency calls for service that do not involve direct suspect contact and are generally not incidents in progress. They have extensive and specialized field training that allows them to process crime scenes, including photography, lifting latent prints, and collecting and preserving evidence. They also collect supplemental information for reports, interview victims and or witnesses and obtain all essential information to conduct a thorough investigation.
Other primary duties of PAs include responding to both injury and non-injury motor vehicle collisions and facilitating the exchange of information at non-injury collisions, as well as assisting the public with accident forms, tow sheets and other paperwork. PAs also conduct traffic and crowd control and perform other duties as requested by the investigating officer. Their presence on a scene can be a vital part of ensuring that sworn officers are back on patrol as soon as possible and directing their attention to more serious incidents.
Court Officer
The department has a patrol officer assigned to the Goodyear Municipal Court to assist with courtroom and City Council security, immediate bookings, defendant compliance payments, counseling and any other court ordered mandates. The court officer assists patrol with booking warrants and in-state transports of Goodyear warrants booked out of Maricopa County, validation with DPS/PD dispatch, issuance of misdemeanor warrants, and setting up meetings with the presiding judge. In addition, the officer provides weekly transport for in-custody persons for scheduled appearances in court, which totaled 123 with nine in-custodies/warrants for patrol.
Specialized Enforcement - Traffic Unit
Jason Bayer served as the sergeant over the Goodyear Police Department’s Traffic Unit during the fiscal year. The traffic unit is comprised of one professional investigation specialist and seven sworn officers who enforce traffic laws and conduct traffic-related investigations. The traffic unit has three officers assigned on motorcycles, three officers in unmarked enforcement vehicles and one officer assigned to commercial vehicle enforcement. All traffic unit officers are highly-trained with many of the officers maintaining certifications such as: Drug Recognition Expert and/or Instructor, Qualified Law Enforcement Phlebotomists and Advanced Accident Reconstructionist. In addition, several Goodyear traffic officers serve as general instructors and provide continuing training to officers within the department and across the state.
$50,000
DUI ABATEMENT GRANT* FOR ENFORCEMENT AND PERSONNEL COSTS
$45,000
DUI/IMPAIRED DRIVER ENFORCEMENT GRANT* FOR ENFORCEMENT AND PERSONNEL COSTS
1 2
Statistics
752
DUI ARRESTS
Accomplishments [ ]
UNDER AGE DUI ARRESTS — 18
Training provided for
PROVIDED IMPAIRED DRIVER REFRESHER TRAINING TO PATROL OFFICERS
$11,674 & &
OFFICERS TRAINED AND CERTIFIED IN COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS ATTENDED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS TRAINING CONFERENCE 2 4
Specialized Enforcement - Community Services Unit
Sean Clarke is the sergeant over the Goodyear Police Department’s Community Services Unit. Community Services was designed with the intention of reducing the likelihood of becoming a crime victim. As a bridge between residents of Goodyear and the police department, Community Services dedicates time and resources to programs that build relationships with the community.
Community Services Programs
Block Watch programs (four new start-ups)
G.A.I.N. (Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods)
Shop with a Cop
Citizens’ Academy (two sessions)
Coffee with a Cop (seven events)
Quarterly Crime-Free Multi-Housing complex certification (Instruction)
Neighborhood Mediation in partnership with Goodyear Code Compliance Office which includes barking dog mediation
Volunteers in Police Services program: 13 VIPS
Events
One Pizza with the Police event
Trick or Treat Village
Fall Festival
Lakeside Music Festival
Shred-a-Thon
Annual Sky Kids event
Annual Torch Run
Guardian Games
Provided Community Policing presentation to the Regional Dispatch Academy
An important part of crime prevention is our commitment to Community Policing. As often as possible, officers are visible in the community and engaging with residents. Whether it is through an organized event such as Coffee with a Cop, giving a crime prevention presentation at a neighborhood meeting, or interacting with our youth while on duty, actively engaging with our community is paramount. In addition, as part of our community policing philosophy, we have a robust presence online, interacting with our community on our department social media platforms… Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Nextdoor.
VIPS
The purpose of the Volunteers in Police Services or VIPS program is to enhance the quality and quantity of services provided to the community. The goal of the program is to encourage involvement in police-related activities. These volunteers enjoy involvement in every division of the Goodyear Police Department, supporting every aspect of the department’s efforts to meet the public safety needs of the community. The Goodyear Police Department VIPS program regularly adds new volunteers, who are all vital members of the police department team. There are 13 members of the VIPS program.
YANA
YANA, which is an acronym for YOU ARE NOT ALONE, is a free program within the Goodyear Police Department’s VIPS. This program provides regular phone calls and home visits to seniors who have limited family or community contacts who cannot check on them regularly. Seniors can also call the YANA program for help finding specific services and resources. YANA promotes peace of mind and a sense of security for our senior residents. It is a great resource for disabled seniors who enjoy the independence of living on their own.
Statistics
50
YANA MEMBERS
562
1 2 HOME AND OTHER VISITS
Accomplishments
Held its annual Chat and Chew event, with over 125 seniors and residents attending the event. Several guest speakers presented information to our community with issues they face with everyday living.
Citizens’ Academy
The Citizens’ Police Academy is a program to develop citizen awareness and understanding of the role of law enforcement in their community. Typically held twice each calendar year, the ten week course is a highly sought-after community engagement activity that increases transparency and builds relationships between the community and the police department. Weekly classes are comprised of both lecture and “hands-on” instruction, including a department overview, tours of police facilities, role playing scenarios, gang and drug awareness, and demonstrations by various specialty units. The Fall 2021 class had 12 graduates, and the Spring 2022 class had 15 graduates.
Shop with a Cop
Each year the Goodyear Police Department celebrates the holidays with well-deserving children at our annual Shop with a Cop event. This event is made possible by a considerable donation from the Pebble Creek Home Tour Group. Shop with a Cop is always the biggest and most anticipated Community Services Unit event of the year. Traditionally, over 20 children and 30 police department members participate alongside the city’s mayor, council members, police explorers, volunteers, and event sponsors. The event starts with breakfast and a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus, at which time each child is presented with a generous Target gift card.
An impressive procession of police vehicles, with lights and sirens, then make their way to the shopping portion of the event, where children enjoy one-on-one time shopping with their cop. Shop with a Cop is a favorite annual tradition at the Goodyear Police Department and another example of community policing.
Specialized Enforcement — Homeless Outreach Team
The Goodyear Police Homeless Outreach Team was implemented in 2018 and has proven to be very successful in providing resources and assisting the homeless in getting off the street. In addition, the team has a mental health component to the program. Managed by Sergeant Sean Clarke under the Community Services Unit, the team partners with the Phoenix Rescue Mission, CareFirst in Avondale, and St. Mary’s Food Bank to provide the needed supplies and resources to the homeless population in Goodyear.
Statistics
[ ]
1,101 RESPONDED TO CALLS FOR SERVICE
97
CRISIS/MENTAL HEALTH CALLS
Accomplishments
60
TRANSPORTS: HOSPITALS, SHELTER’S, REHAB FACILITIES
354 PUBLIC CONTACTS
1 2
In 2021, HOT continued with the placement of signs to discourage panhandling. In 2020, four signs were installed. This past year, four new signs have been installed in locations to include N. Bullard Ave. leading to I-10 on ramps and the entrances of the Goodyear Park & Ride. Additional signs in high traffic areas are planned for the future.
In November of 2020, HOT discovered a skateboard park and “make-shift” residence that had been built illegally, in the desert area southeast of the Cotton Lane Bridge. After a two year process, an agreement was reached and in June 2022, the suspect vacated the property and the property owner removed the structure.
Specialized Patrol — School Resource Officers Unit
Sean Tyler is the sergeant over the School Resource Officer (SRO) Unit. The Goodyear Police Department has had an established SRO program for over 20 years. There are four SROs in the unit who are assigned in 26 schools, including three elementary school districts, 16 public schools, two private schools and eight charter schools.
SROs patrol school campuses and surrounding neighborhoods, providing information to detectives when investigating crimes and providing selective traffic enforcement as needed. SROs also work security after-hours at sporting events, school dances and graduation ceremonies and make classroom presentations on various topics, such as youth alcohol abuse, traffic safety, anti-bullying, drug prevention and distracted driving. Officers maintain an open, interactive relationship with students, striving to provide a positive image of law enforcement and prevent crime from occurring on campus.
SROs act as a liaison between the community, school administration and the police department. Officers have provided training for school staff, administrators and students on what to do in case of an emergency situation, including conducting active shooter and lockdown drills at school campuses. All Goodyear SROs have received crisis intervention training to include specialized training in autism, de-escalation techniques and teen suicide prevention with an emphasis on family support. To further build the relationship between the SROs and the student population, the unit participates in several events throughout the community, including the Lids on Kids helmet safety program, Police Explorer program and Goodyear Police Teen Academy.
Goodyear SROs are providing leadership in the West Valley by working with other agencies to ensure uniformity in emergency response operations. The unit works hard to create and maintain a supportive and educational network for all SROs throughout the area to strengthen working relationships between programs with the common goal of fostering safe, secure, and healthy learning environments for the youth in our community.
Explorer Program
The Goodyear Police Department Explorer program, also known as Law Enforcement Exploring, is part of the Boy Scouts of America and their parent organization, Learning for Life. The program is open to young men and women ages 14-20 years of age and provides participants with the opportunity to promote personal growth through character development. Explorers are provided with a variety of law enforcement related community service opportunities and leadership training and are encouraged to participate in physical fitness and team building activities. They work under the direct supervision of the School Resource Officer Unit with the assistance of various other department members.
Specialized Enforcement — K9 Unit
The K9 program was established in Goodyear to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement services for the community. Led by Sergeant Brad Hardin, the K9 Unit has four officer/K9 teams and one sergeant/K9 team, supporting the Patrol Division by conducting drug/ narcotic searches, performing suspect tracks and building or open area searches, and making criminal offender apprehensions. Two of the four K9 teams have an explosive ordinance detection (EOD) dog, which has been specially trained to search for various types of explosives. All K9 teams are dual purpose, meaning that in addition to either narcotics or EOD work, they are also used as a tool in the location and apprehension of fleeing suspects. All city of Goodyear K9s are certified annually through the National Police Canine Association, the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association, for patrol and narcotics, and all of Goodyear’s K9s assist the SWAT team with their operations.
The top priority and goal of the K9 Unit is safety, not only for the dogs and handlers, but for Goodyear residents and other officers as well. When possible, K9s are deployed in order to quickly resolve a situation or prevent an attack on an officer. Training patrol officers and new recruits on how to interact with the dogs during incidents is of the utmost importance in order to maintain the safety of all involved. The community is always welcome to ask questions at city events, and often walk away with detailed information about the K9s and a better understanding of their usefulness in patrol and other duties.
The unit assisted numerous agencies throughout the year with drug finds and suspect apprehensions, as well as bomb detection searches, which are also conducted prior to every spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark. Additionally, the unit alternates as host for weekly K9 in-service training with other agencies, including Avondale PD, MCSO, Glendale PD, and Peoria PD.
Statistics
Special Assignments Unit
Special Assignments Unit (SAU) consists of the Crisis Negotiations Team, the Sniper/ Perimeter Team and Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). It is the intent of the SAU to provide highly trained tactical negotiations support in potentially lifethreatening situations. These sensitive situations often require specialized skills, tactics, and equipment to isolate, control and resolve the situation in a manner consistent with departmental policy.
In support of its commitment to the grant funded Urban Area Security Initiative or UASI, state-wide response, the Goodyear SWAT Team continues to train in elements required to maintain its FEMA Type 2 resource classification.
[ ] 28 RESPONDED TO
Accomplishments
Adopted new hiring and training standards
Selected and trained two operators
RECEIVED $41,000
FULL TEAM CALLOUTS/ WARRANTS SERVICED IN UASI GRANT MONEY
$29,000 FOR TACTICAL TRAINING $12,000
FOR TACTICAL EQUIPMENT
Received over 40 hours of tactical training from Phoenix SWAT and 40 hours of training from the National Tactical Officers Association 1 3 4 2
Hosted City Manager Julie Karins, for an On The Job with Julie episode
Support Services Bureau
The Support Services Bureau is led by Deputy Chief of Police Jeff Mercy. This division includes Telecommunications, Criminal Investigations, Hiring and Recruiting, Training, and Policy Administration.
Telecommunications Division
The Telecommunications Division is led by professional civilian supervisor, Shauna Henrie. Goodyear dispatch professionals cover shifts around the clock, every day of the year, serving residents and visitors to the city of Goodyear.
In addition, staff answers text-to-911 to meet the needs of those who are unable to make the audio phone call to 911 for reasons which may include an active shooter, other safety situations or due to physical impairment. The system can also be used if lines are busy or voice networks are congested.
Statistics
Accomplishments
SECONDS 10
NON EMERGENCY CALLS ANSWERED: 77,115 | AVERAGE OF 211 EACH DAY
We have an AMAZING team of emergency dispatchers working here in Goodyear! Telecommunications is the critical link between the public and the officers on the street. The division is tasked with answering all 911 calls made within the city, answering all non-emergency calls made to the police department, providing radio communications to the officers in the field, and handling queries and entries into the national and state criminal justice information system databases. (NCIC and ACJIS) [ ]
Creation of the Incident Tactical Dispatcher team: two dispatchers certified and ready to assist in major incidents
96.43% OF ALL 911 CALLS WERE ANSWERED IN UNDER 10 SECONDS.
57,569 TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROCESSED
TOTAL CALLS FOR SERVICE
Four new hires
43,558 911 CALLS ANSWERED AVERAGE OF 120 CALLS EACH DAY 1 3 2
Dispatchers CIT and CTO certified, monthly in-house training implemented, three officers cross-trained as call takers
Criminal Investigations Division
A lieutenant is assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division (CID). CID serves as the main investigative branch of the police department. The mission of CID is to identify, target, arrest, and successfully prosecute individuals involved in criminal activity as well as to recover any stolen property. Detectives investigate cases beyond the resources of the Patrol Division, conducting follow-up investigations for criminal cases and responding to crime scenes when requested. CID also includes units who operate proactively, with the intention of reducing the likelihood of becoming the victim of crime.
Statistics
502
Violent Crimes Unit
ARRESTS
VIOLENT CRIMES — 70
PROPERTY CRIMES — 145
SVU CRIMES — 36
SUI CRIMES — 78
AVTTF CRIMES — 173
Violent Crimes Unit is supervised by Sergeant Kyle Rogers and is responsible for investigating crimes such as homicides, suicides, work-related deaths and any other suspicious deaths not reported as a homicide. The unit investigates robberies, assaults, and aggravated assaults, kidnapping, extortion, missing persons where foul play is suspected, domestic crimes against persons, and Department of Child Services referrals. Violent Crimes also handles criminal investigations involving law enforcement personnel, shootings occurring within the city of Goodyear, and criminal investigations of all in-custody deaths.
Statistics
229 CASES ASSIGNED
Property Crimes Unit
ARRESTS
257 CASES CLOSED
The Property Crimes Unit is supervised by Sergeant Tizok Duque and is responsible for investigating crimes such as auto theft, fraud schemes, financial crimes, organized crime, arson, burglary, theft and identity theft.
Statistics
450 CASES ASSIGNED
70 ARRESTS
145
417 CASES CLOSED
Special Victims Unit (SVU)
The Special Victims Unit is supervised by Sergeant Jamie Benker and is responsible for investigating crimes such as crimes against children, various sex crimes, elder abuse, runaways and missing persons and the Sex Offender program for the city of Goodyear.
Statistics
248 CASES ASSIGNED
ARRESTS 36
212 CASES CLOSED
In August 2021, a female victim and her four children came to Goodyear PD to report a domestic violence incident, which included strangulation. The suspect was her boyfriend of 27 years. The victim told officers the suspect threatened to find and shoot her. During interviews with the children, they disclosed numerous sexual acts committed against each of them. These allegations included child molestation and sexual conduct with a minor. Detectives were able to locate the suspect who left the area; he was arrested and is in jail awaiting sentencing in regard to 25+ charges.
Special Investigations Unit
The Special Investigations Unit is led by a sergeant. SIU detectives work in a plainclothes/covert capacity and may conduct undercover operations in order to provide support in crime prevention, detection, investigation, and response. They work directly with Patrol and the Criminal Investigation Division to accomplish their mission. SIU works various assignments to include but not limited to narcotics investigations, fugitive apprehensions, surveillance, patrol and CID assistance with case follow-up and investigation. SIU detectives may also manage their own investigative case load. SIU detectives must have the flexibility to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and ability to respond to call-outs.
Statistics
60
APPROXIMATELY
SEARCH WARRANTS INCLUDES RESIDENTIAL, CELLULAR, SOCIAL MEDIA, GPS
Drug Seizures
120,000 FENTANYL PILLS SEIZED
78
ARRESTS MADE
25 + AGENCY ASSISTS
INCLUDES DEA, PHOENIX PD, DPS, RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFFS, SAN BERNARDINO PD, FREMONT PD CA
155 POUNDS OF METHAMPHETAMINE
55 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA
Detectives from CID are assigned to multi-jurisdictional law enforcement task force specialty units created through legal mutual cooperation between various government entities. Task forces are comprised of sworn law officers from federal, tribal, prosecutorial, state, and local agencies. Their focus is specialized investigation and response regarding particular criminal activity usually occurring in multiple adjoining jurisdictions.
The Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force (AVTTF) provides statewide expertise in the investigation of property crimes involving stolen vehicles, related components and insurance fraud. The mission is to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals and criminal organizations that profit from the theft of motor vehicles and related crimes. The AVTTF also provides subject matter expertise, training and investigative support to law enforcement agencies.
Statistics
173
442 VEHICLES RECOVERED ESTIMATED VALUE OF VEHICLES RECOVERED
$5 million OVER
SERVED
53
Crime Scene Unit
8
STOLEN FIREARMS RECOVERED
The Crime Scene Unit supervised by Casie Phillips is responsible for all call types that require the evaluation, investigation and analysis of scenes requiring special equipment and investigative techniques. The unit uses state-of-theart tools and techniques to secure, collect and process physical evidence, including lifting fingerprints, collecting and documenting trace evidence such as hair or fibers, documenting death investigations and documenting scenes involving trajectory information from gun fire and/or blood spatter patterns. Staff also continually conduct the processing of physical evidence in-house along with test firings and examining firearm casings using the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). They also brief detectives and officers working underlying cases by preparing reports and ultimately testifying in court as necessary.
Statistics
87
189 REPORTS 102 SUPPLEMENTAL AND 87 RESPONSE PACKETS
Crime Intelligence Analysis Unit
The Crime Intelligence Analysis Unit (CIAU) is a component of the Criminal Investigations Division and is under the direct supervision of the CID lieutenant. The Crime Analyst Stacey Castillo is responsible for monitoring criminal activity in the city of Goodyear and communicating the information to command staff, patrol, CID and other units. The goal of the unit is to support community policing efforts by providing timely and accurate tactical, strategic, administrative and operational intelligence analysis of data relating to crime.
Investigations Specialist
The department’s Investigations Specialist Patricia Kellogg handles all necessary paperwork for the entire department to include: reports, supplemental reports, search warrants, lab results, body worn camera footage, charging submittals, photographs and any information within a case to successfully present and prosecute a case for the county attorney and city prosecutor. The investigations specialist also handles any further requests from the courts to move forward with prosecution.
Crisis Services Unit
The department’s Crisis Services Unit was established to ensure that victims of crime are afforded the support needed after a traumatic situation. The Victim Assistance program led by Kristina Bunch with unit member Desiree Valenzuela, provides services to anyone who is a victim of crime or experiencing a traumatic event including domestic violence, sexual assault, loss of a loved one and physical or sexual abuse of a child. Individuals and families who are clients at the Southwest Family Advocacy Center are offered assistance.
In addition to providing services, the Victim Assistance program ensures the police department is up to date and in compliance with Arizona law regarding victims’ rights. The program also participates in community events, collaborates with other community service providers, and is available to provide education and awareness to the community.
Statistics
270
CLIENTS SERVED
1,566 SERVICES PROVIDED
Services provided range from assistance with orders of protection, emotional support, information on criminal justice process, counseling referrals, safety planning and more.
Hiring and Recruiting
The Hiring and Recruiting (H/R) Unit is managed by Lieutenant Chip Kirk and includes one background investigator and one administrative assistant. The unit’s primary function is to coordinate the lengthy hiring process for the department to include sworn, professional staff and volunteers. The background investigation process includes review of each applicant’s packet for compliance with AZPOST standards (sworn only) and compliance with city of Goodyear and Police Department requirements (all employees). The process also includes verification of personal information, driving history, criminal history check, reference validation, and coordination of all necessary polygraphs, psychological tests, and medical evaluations.
The H/R Unit handles applications for every open position throughout the year. A typical background investigation for a department employee takes approximately eight to ten weeks with lateral officers from out of state taking even longer. The unit works alongside the Human Resources Department throughout the entire process and also assists with background investigations on applicants in other positions throughout the city.
