Field Operations Section

The Desert Breeze Precinct worked to strengthen of partnerships with large scale employers such as AirProducts, Intel and Macerich.  Tours were arranged to familiarize officers to key aspects of facilities within their beats.  The insight and knowledge gained will enhance the effectiveness of an emergency response in the event of a critical incident.  Joint training was conducted within these facilities to develop first-response familiarization with their personnel.

During 2016, community outreach by the Precinct was exceptional.  Officers regularly held community meetings, participated in school lunch visits, supported community events and hosted “Coffee with a Cop” programs.  One breakthrough event – “Pokemon Go” – was hosted in Desert Breeze Park and led to several hundred kids and adults interacting with police officers in a fun and relaxed environment.  Additionally, precinct officers organized a mental health event titled “A Focus on Understanding and Hope.”  This event accommodated 600 attendees who networked and experienced enlightening presentations covering mental illness, suicide, and addiction.

Representatives from the Precinct attended a Town Hall discussion hosted by Intel.  This event provided an opportunity for community members to ask questions about police use-of-force, bias-based policing, and police officer selection and training.  The event reinforced the Department’s commitment to professionalism and its continued goal to serve the community with dedication and compassion.

The Main Station Commander partnered with the City’s Downtown Development Manager and several other City directors and department heads to create a “Downtown Quality of Life and Safety Committee.”  This committee is intended to generate ideas to change the perceptions of crime and create a safe environment for Chandler’s downtown entertainment district.  The committee successfully launched numerous promotions including the “See Something, Say Something” campaign.  The committee was also able to fund a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) study.  The intent of the study is to identify physical changes that can be made to the downtown district in order to make it safer for patrons.  The study was completed at the end of 2016, and results are expected in early 2017.

Also in 2016, the Main Precinct launched the “Guardian Academy.”  This academy is this first of its kind and is intended for parents and caregivers of teen-aged children.  The classes taught about a number of relevant topics, including internet safety, human trafficking, and drug, alcohol and gang awareness.  The first academy was well received, with more being planned for the future.

The following is a list of some of the significant contributions that were made by the men and women of the Chandler Heights Precinct – whose passion and commitment made these possible:

• The Chandler Heights Precinct was the first precinct to have Coffee with a Cop which was held at Kneaders in Chandler. Coffee with a Cop is an outreach opportunity where officers meet with the public to discuss a variety of topics in a relaxed environment.
• Outreach with Chandler Airport leadership is on-going to discuss police response to the airport in emergency situations. The Department facilitated airport checks and recommended protocol for plane crashes.
• The Precinct participated in “Fields of Hope,” a partnership with Sun Lakes to bring awareness to child abuse and prevention efforts.
• The day-shift patrol teams have made regular practice of visiting elementary schools during their lunch hours. This practice has evolved into stopping in just to say hello and reading to younger students.
• The popular social media game, “Pokémon Go,” was organized to encourage game playing safety and community outreach. Officers from the precinct walked around the Veteran Oasis Park and engaged families who were playing the game.  There were approximately 50 participants, and fun was had by all.
• Several patrol teams conducted special details throughout the year which included directed traffic enforcement in a number of neighborhoods, and community canvasses in which information was passed out to citizens explaining how to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime.
• With the Department’s heightened usage of social media, the Precinct was able to establish partnerships and significantly increase its ability to reach out to South Chandler citizens.
• To address South Chandler’s increase in business starts, general construction, and new subdivisions, Precinct employees implemented projects entailing “high visibility” campaigns, Home Owner Association (HOA) partnerships and community events.
• Crime prevention efforts increased with the assistance of Officer Robin Atwood – a Crime Prevention Officer assigned to the Precinct. Officer Atwood raises awareness about crime being committed in neighborhoods, and challenges community members to be active in the City’s crime fighting efforts.
• This year, personnel from the Chandler Heights Precinct attended the opening of several commercial adventures to include Sprouts, Fry’s, Rita’s Burrito’s, and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
• After a South Chandler resident had his bike stolen, a number of employees helped facilitate the purchase of a new bike.  Additionally, Mike Love, a Fry’s store manager, presented a bike lock and a gift card to the victim, who depended on the bike as his main source of transportation.  Global bikes also donated some items and offered a discount on the new bike.  “Special thanks” goes out to Derek Huenneke, Jon Correll, Tyler Service, Vince Carpenter, Trinidad Raya, Chris Farrar, Keith Aguiar, Chris Perez, and Michael Heikes of the Chandler Police Department and Susan from Under the Shield – who donated half of the funds needed for the purchase.

In 2016, team members participated in 3 to 4 public demonstrations each month.  These events are always well-liked by community members as it gives them a chance to learn about a valuable police asset and to interact with the Department’s service dogs.  This is especially popular with kids.  During these events, members of this unit represent the agency with a high level of professionalism and enthusiasm for their work.  The Department could not ask for more qualified and dedicated emissaries of community policing.  The following are a few of the events they participated in this year:

• “Woofstock” – an annual event put on by the Chandler Parks and Recreation Department
• A demonstration for the Muscular Dystrophy foundation in Scottsdale
• Five Chandler Police Citizen Academies, two of which were “Youth” Academies
• Various “Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods” (GAIN) events throughout the City
• Multiple school demonstrations

This is only a small sampling of the events that the Unit participated in this year, but it gives an idea of the level of dedication of the team members.  Other things this unit has done in furtherance of the Department’s overall mission include:  two media interviews – one from a local magazine publication and the other with a local television news outlet; the donation of one of the Department’s single purpose dogs to the Department of Corrections – which helped to further proactive support of inter-agency cooperation; and lastly, participation in the 2nd Annual East Valley K-9 Trials.