Phoenix police chief finalists address staffing shortfalls, DOJ recommendations and community trust

Four finalists for Phoenix police chief — Interim Chief Michael Sullivan; Assistant Chief Ed DeCastro (Investigations); Assistant Chief Ed Wessing (Mesa Police Department); and Deputy Chief Casey Johnson (Oakland Police Department) — answered public and panel questions at a city-hosted forum, focusing on officer recruitment and retention, crime suppression strategies, reforms recommended by a June 2024 Department of Justice (DOJ) report, and community-police relations.

The finalists emphasized staffing and retention as the department's immediate priorities. “We have to keep the people that we have right now,” Assistant Chief Ed DeCastro said, describing liaison rotations that expose patrol officers to detective work and calling for morale-building and training. Assistant Chief Ed Wessing told attendees, “I think we’re in a crisis here in the city of Phoenix with the percentage of vacancy rate that we have for sworn positions. It’s just over 20%,” and proposed leadership development, mentoring and short-term reassignments from specialty units back to patrol. Deputy Chief Casey Johnson said partnership and targeted violence-intervention programs matter, citing Oakland’s use of a “ceasefire” approach and federal partnerships; he also suggested technology pilots to supplement staffing, including a drone responder concept. Interim Chief Michael Sullivan highlighted Phoenix’s existing crime plan and transparency measures and said reform and crime reduction efforts can proceed “outside of federal oversight.”

Why this matters: The next chief will set priorities for a department that candidates and officials said faces a multi‑year staffing shortfall, community concern over policing practices, and implementation of dozens of recommendations from the DOJ. The hire will shape how Phoenix balances crime suppression, officer wellness and accountability.

Most substantive proposals and where they differ

- Staffing and patrol coverage: Candidates proposed overlapping responses: short-term reassignments of specialty personnel to patrol shifts; expanded use of reserves and police assistants; revised shift and staffing models; and greater focus on retention through recognition, training pipelines and incentives. Chief Sullivan noted upcoming recruit classes and a rise in applications; DeCastro and Wessing stressed retention and morale as foremost.

- Crime suppression and data-driven deployment: Wessing urged “a more data driven approach” using hot-spot policing models and measurable outcomes. Sullivan pointed to Phoenix’s crime plan and said commanders must tailor tactics to neighborhood-level differences; Johnson emphasized intervention programs and federal partnerships for trafficking and violent-crime reduction.

- Mental health, homelessness and alternative response: All four finalists supported expanded alternative-response models. Sullivan cited the city’s behavioral-health and community-assistance units and said the department diverted “over 8,700 calls” last year to non‑police resources. Candidates recommended more crisis-intervention training (CIT, ICAT) and co-response teams pairing clinicians with officers.

- DOJ report and accountability: The forum referenced a June 2024 DOJ report with 37 recommendations. Candidates generally supported continuing reforms. DeCastro said the department is implementing scorecards and accountability systems and is chairing work on a nondiscriminatory‑policing operations order; Johnson, speaking from Oakland’s long experience with oversight, warned that sustained oversight can have both corrective benefits and operational burdens. Sullivan said continuous improvement can proceed with local partners and the city council.

- Use-of-force policy and training: Candidates described the new policy implemented in February as a “living” document that requires intensive scenario-based training. Sullivan said the department provided about 20 hours of training and solicited community comment; several finalists urged additional, realistic practice to reduce ambiguity about “necessary, proportional, reasonable” force decisions.

Community concerns and outreach

Candidates addressed community fear of reporting crime among immigrant residents and pledged clearer messaging that municipal police will focus on public safety rather than immigration enforcement. DeCastro emphasized bilingual outreach and local advisory meetings. Johnson and Wessing emphasized long-term relationship building through repeated community engagement and diversified recruiting.

Process and next steps

The forum was an interview-style public event; it produced public statements and candidate proposals but no formal decision. City staff said the new chief is expected to be announced in April. The forum included prepared questions from residents (more than 340 submitted) and used a time-limited format for each response.

Ending

The finalists each stressed a combination of crime reduction, accountability and improved community trust. The city will incorporate public feedback from the forum into the selection process before a future appointment is announced.