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Police Chief Yahner
Leadership from the TOP
4 | CANYON CORRIDOR CONNECTION
Phoenix.gov/police
620 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Q&A
CITY LEADERSHIP
Q:
Goals: What are your main goals as chief?
A:
I have five main goals, which have remained constant during my time as the police chief:
crime reduction, expanding the department’s outreach efforts with the community, hiring
more police officers, increasing the training we provided to our officers and implementing the
department’s new records management system.
Q:
Community: What does “community” mean to you?
A:
In my opinion, community means a group of people working together toward a common goal. A
community has the ability to communicate effectively with all members; everyone has a voice.
Q:
Officer Reduction: How can the community better work with the police department to be successful during this time of
reduction in officers?
A:
Over the past several years the Phoenix Police Department learned to work more effectively
with the community to solve problems due to a reduction in the number of sworn officers.
During this time, the department strengthened relationships with the community to create
additional outreach efforts. Coffee with a Cop and local Block Watch meetings are just
two examples of ways for the community to connect with the Phoenix Police Department;
community involvement in these programs is vital for their success. As the department
undergoes an intense recruitment effort, we will have the ability to further develop
these efforts.
Q:
Community Based Policing: In light of situations around the country, what is the Phoenix Police Department doing to
better develop community relations?
A:
The Phoenix Police Department has always understood the importance of establishing
relationships with the community based on mutual respect, two-way communication and
transparency. Now, more than ever, effective community relationships are paramount to the
city’s overall success. Recently, we were awarded with a $3.1 million federal grant to add 25
police officers to our Community Relations Bureau. These additional positions will augment
our current, robust and effective community outreach programs.
An Interview
with Our NEW
Phoenix Police
Chief Yahner
by Faith Weese