City manager highlights new state law protecting residents from Bitcoin kiosk scams and Peoria police pilot using civilian investigators

City Manager Henry Darwin told the City Council on May 13 that Governor Katie Hobbs signed House Bill 2387, legislation Peoria police helped draft to add protections for Arizona residents — particularly seniors — targeted by scams involving Bitcoin kiosks.

Darwin said Peoria officers had worked on drafting the bill and testified during the legislative process. He described repeated local incidents in which residents, largely older adults, were lured into depositing large sums of money at kiosks after being told by callers that family members were in danger; Darwin said those funds had been difficult to recover under prior law and that the new statute establishes additional protections.

Darwin also described a local pilot program in which civilian police investigators assist sworn detectives. He recounted a recent case in which investigator Ponce identified two handguns found in a bush as connected to a multi‑jurisdictional stolen‑vehicle pursuit and kidnapping investigation involving Phoenix and Mesa police, coordinated with case agents and ensured the firearms were turned over for prosecution. Darwin said the civilian investigators free sworn officers for immediate and high‑risk responses while assisting successful evidence recovery and interagency coordination.

Darwin praised the department’s work on the legislation and the investigator pilot as examples of local problem‑solving; the presentation was part of the city manager’s regular report and did not require council action.