Ten semi-finalist candidates have been invited to interview for the position of Phoenix Police Chief.
Dallas Police Department’s Deputy Chief Malik Aziz is one of semi-finalists. Deputy Chief Aziz was the favorite choice for Tucson top cop spot, but the Tucson City Council made what they beieved was a more poitically correct choice.
The semi-finalists were chosen from a pool of 65 applications the city received after opening up the recruitment process earlier this year.
During the next few months, the semi-finalists will be required to compete in an interview process with members of the city’s executive team and community members who were selected by the Mayor and Council. The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA), the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association (PPSLA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) will also have representation on the interview panels.
After the semi-finalist stage, a small group of finalists will be invited back to participate in the next phase of the process.
Current Phoenix Police Chief, Joseph Yahner, will retire in October 2016 after serving the city for more than 30 years. The new chief is expected to begin prior to Yahner’s departure.
Malik Aziz, Deputy Chief
Dallas, TX
24 years in law enforcement
MBA, BA in Criminology & Criminal Justice
Patrick Melvin, Police Chief
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Former Cmdr., Phoenix, AZ
30 years in law enforcement
M.Ed, BS Criminal Justice
Luis Cabrera, Deputy Chief
Miami, FL
28 years in law enforcement
MBA, BS in Business
Peter Newsham, Assistant Chief
Washington, D.C.
26 years in law enforcement
Juris Doctor, BS in Political Science
Richard Smith, Major
Kansas City, MO
28 years in law enforcement
MS in Criminal Justice, BS in Criminal Justice
Dave Harvey, Executive Assistant Chief
Phoenix, AZ
26 years in law enforcement
BS in Administration of Justice
Richard Vasquez, Former Chief
Woodbury, PA
24 years in law enforcement (20 years with NYPD)
MPA (Pending), MA in Criminal Justice, MA Certificate in Terrorism Studies
Mike Kurtenbach, Assistant Chief
Phoenix, AZ
26 years in law enforcement
M.Ed in Human Relations, BA Liberal Studies
Jeri Williams, Police Chief
Oxnard, CA
Former Asst. Chief, Phoenix, AZ
28 years in law enforcement
MS in Education, BA in Fine Arts