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Apache Junction police outline staffing gains, technology and crime‑fighting results
Summary
Police Chief Pulley reported the department is fully staffed with 95 officers and reviewed new technology — drones, camera systems, a training simulator and data platforms — plus statistics on arrests, calls and programmatic outreach.
Chief Pulley provided the council with a department update on March 4, saying that since his arrival three years ago the police department has grown in authorized strength, added technology and expanded community outreach.
“When I got here, we had authorized 75 police officers and we had 39 authorized professional staff,” Pulley said. “We are currently at 95 officers and we are 51 professional staff.” He said the department has hired 49 officers during his tenure and reported the force is fully staffed with applicants waiting to join.
Pulley described several new or recently expanded tools: mobile overt camera trailers for special events; Motorola APX‑N70 radios with GPS on officers; the VirTra 300‑degree training simulator; a data‑sharing and analytics platform called Peregrine; and a civilian customer‑satisfaction tool called SpiderTech. He also outlined the department’s drone program and Flock automated‑license‑plate and camera system.
Pulley provided operational metrics for 2024: about 45,000 calls for service (up from nearly 40,000 in 2022), roughly 500 total accidents with seven fatal crashes, 155 DUI arrests, about 2,000 arrests and approximately 5,000 citations. He said the department has 11 licensed drone pilots and 13 drones and listed the uses — accident reconstruction, patrol support, SWAT and search and rescue — including several examples in which drones or Flock footage helped locate suspects and recover stolen vehicles. He said Flock camera leads contributed to 14 arrests, 19 recovered stolen vehicles, six recovered license plates, and nearly $400,000 in assets recovered in 2024.
Pulley described a new full‑time homeless outreach officer who works with partners including Horizon Health and Wellness and said the department attended more than 70 community events last year.
Council members and the mayor praised the department’s leadership and recruitment results, and Pulley said he would invite council members to the department’s training center once staff complete work on the VirTra simulator. No council action was taken; this was an informational report.
