Commander Smith, an Arizona native who grew up in Tempe, will now oversee the safety of over 200,000 residents in an area of almost 41 square miles. The precinct employs 289 personnel, which includes 250 officers and supervisors.
     Commander Smith moved to this new position after spending the last year working as a liaison between the Police Department and the City Manager’s Office. “It was a tremendous opportunity to experience the political side of things,” says Smith, who has been with the Phoenix Police Department for 22
years. Before his liaison position, Smith was a Senior Shift Commander on an overnight shift from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. “That was a fun job where I worked with some great people, but I just don’t well with that third shift.”
     The new Commander is quite happy in his new spot. “I’m terribly excited to be here. I plan on working with citizens, neighborhood groups and the business
New Commander for Squaw Peak Precinct community to address any issues they have,” says Smith.
     When asked what he does with his free time away from his precinct responsibilities, Commander Smith chuckles. “Who has free time when you have three kids? They are seventeen, six and four and we do like to spend time in Show Low to get in a little fishing.”
     Commander Smith is proud to assure the public that when it comes to the safety of our streets that the precinct’s 289 personnel are comprised of “very good people looking out for the community.”
       

E-mail Tracy at: tracywerth@cox.net

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