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Queen Creek Police seek additional officers amid rising calls and traffic incidents
Summary
Chief Randy Bryce told council the police department's activity and workload have increased sharply since 2022; staff requested multiple new sworn and civilian positions to sustain response and specialized units.
Police Chief Randy Bryce presented public-safety data and staffing requests to the council during the April 8 budget session, saying the department has seen large increases in 9-1-1 calls, traffic enforcement needs and investigative workload.
Bryce said 9-1-1 calls rose roughly 402% when comparing his department's first six months in 2022 with the end of 2024, and that officer-initiated activity and nonemergency calls also climbed substantially. He presented a series of crime and traffic statistics showing increases in non-injury crashes, drug- and alcohol-related enforcement work and a general rise in records and investigative workload.
To respond, the police budget request included staffing and unit changes: additional patrol officers to complete a full nighttime squad, new positions in special operations (including a dedicated night traffic team), an expanded youth-engagement unit, detective staffing for fraud and internet-crimes-against-children work, records supervisors to handle rising public-records requests and administrative supervisory positions to improve span of control. Chief Bryce said some specialized grants have supported work now funded as part of the base request.
Bryce said specialized traffic enforcement and training are central to the department's strategy to reduce serious crashes and fatalities. He described recent declines in motor-vehicle thefts and burglaries while noting continued pressure from vehicle and youth-related incidents. The council discussed constitutional and operational questions about checkpoints, roadside stops and enforcement tools, and staff characterized DUI enforcement as resource-intensive because of training and booking-time requirements.
No formal council votes were taken on police staffing at the April 8 session; staff said the requests would be included in the draft budget and returned for council consideration as part of the budget process.
