August 2015
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Kieralyn Kennington jumps with excitement and fear as a monkey-tailed skink gets a little too close.
Smith takes over as city attorney By Kenneth LaFave
Don’t let the highsounding title fool you. There’s a lot more to the position of city attorney than just running an office. “It’s not simply a managerial job. You practice law and are involved in aspects of the practice of the law,” said City Attorney Jim Smith. Smith, who took over as city attorney effective Jim Smith July 24, was approved for the position by the City Council July 1. He succeeds outgoing City Attorney Debbie Spinner. Deputy city attorney for the City of Mesa for the last two years, and
Police boost air fleet with $3.2 million helicopter
an assistant city attorney By Israel Gonzalez there for 10 years prior, Mesa police have added a $3.2 Smith was selected from “a diverse pool of internal million helicopter to their fleet and external candidates,” to help the department ease its Mayor John Giles said in a aviation rotation and to assist ground officers. press release. The MD530F-model helicop“To do this job, you have ter was purchased from Northto be a lawyer, a manager east Mesa’s MD Helicopters with and a leader, all at the same 2013 public safety bond money. time,” Smith said. “This office has had a great lawyer- It replaces an older model that Mesa Police Department adds a third helicopter to manager-leader in Deb- experienced an emergency land- its fleet. bie Spinner, and I intend ing in June 2014. Mesa Police Department usuMPD has flown since 1994. to keep that going.” ally operates with three helicopters Steve Berry, MPD spokesman, said The city attorney’s responsibilities but has been running with two since his department was excited to have a break down into three basic areas, acthe 2014 incident. Th e new model is third helicopter on board. cording to Smith: similar to the MD500E model the ...continues on page 17 ...continues on page 13
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