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Councilman Greg Stanton's
Arcadia News
October 2004
Although we might see them driving around our neighborhoods from time-to-time or occasionally racing by us on the road with their lights flashing and siren sounding, we probably don’t think of them very often.
But perhaps we should.
Phoenix Police are always there when we need them. Call them and they’ll show up within minutes, ready to help.
Among many things, they’ll look for our lost child, investigate a traffic accident and quiet the loud party next door that’s keeping us awake.
They’ll also be the guest speaker at our neighborhood meetings where they’ll give us tips on how we can make our homes safe from burglars or prevent our cars from being easy targets for thieves.
Whether it takes interviewing skills, investigative expertise, diplomacy or brawn to handle the situation and resolve the problem, the men and women who wear the uniform of the Phoenix Police Department get the job done.
Although they do get recognized by their superiors and peers in the Police Department, few residents of the city ever have the opportunity to thank them for what they do or even hear about their outstanding work.
Thousands of Phoenix residents had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to thank the department after two of the city’s finest – Officers Jason Wolfe and Eric White – were killed in a gun battle at an apartment complex in north Phoenix.
And their response was absolutely remarkable.
During the long motorcades of police cruisers and motorcycles that followed the funerals for the two fallen officers, thousands of citizens paused to pay their respects. Hundreds of motorists stopped their cars along the route and got out to watch the processions and honor the officers. People who lived and worked along or near the routes left their homes and businesses and lined the streets to show how much they cared. Others came from different parts of the city and joined those along the curbs.
A number of people held signs saying how the two officers who were killed would be greatly missed by the community and thanking them and other police officers for their service. Some waved American flags. Others held their hands over their hearts and a few even saluted as the processions passed.
Jake Jacobson, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, said the moving response made him realize that the people were showing respect not just for two Phoenix police officers, but to their fallen officers. “But nothing is more important to us than to see citizens standing at the side of the road in a silent display of respect,” he said.
I was moved by the display of our citizens, too. It made me very proud to be a part of Phoenix and its residents. And I know from now on I am going to think more often about the more than 2,500 police officers who serve us and what an outstanding job they do for each of us every single day. We owe them a great debt of gratitude and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Officers Wolfe and White. I would like to thank Chief Jack Harris and Squaw Peak Precinct Commander Dave Thomas for their leadership, especially during this time.
Although this is a time of great sorrow for our Police Department with the loss of our two fallen officers, it is also a time of great pride.
Our Police Department has done an outstanding job, their dedication to excellence has yielded national, even international awards. Among the many recognitions, the Records and Identification Bureau was the first law enforcement unit in the United States to certify for ISO 9000, a quality management system recognized in the business sector as a leading system for technical standardization.
Out of hundreds of nominations each year, over the past 11 years, two separate Phoenix Police units have received the prestigious Top Cops award from the National Association of Police Organizations in Washington D.C. for their extraordinary police heroism and outstanding service to the community.
In addition, the department’s distinguished Police Chorus was invited to perform at the National Police Week ceremony in our nation’s capitol for the President of the United States.
These are just a few examples, there are numerous national and local awards that our officers have received for their community based policing, heroism, valor and life saving accomplishments. I’m grateful for the dedication and service of the women and men of the Phoenix Police Department.
If you have any questions about this or any other issue, as always, please feel free to call my office at 602-262-7491, send an e-mail to greg.stanton@phoenix.gov or visit my Web site at phoenix.gov/district6.
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