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Goodyear police outline 2027'2031 strategic plan calling for major staffing increase and a real-time crime center
Summary
Chief Brian Nissett presented a multi-year strategic plan that recommends expanding patrol staffing to roughly 138 officers, building a GRIT real-time crime center integrating ALPRs and cameras, precinct restructuring, a wellness unit and pursuit of state accreditation; council discussed ALPR privacy, response times and budget implications.
Chief Brian Nissett presented the Goodyear Police DepartmentFY2027'2031 strategic plan at the Jan. 12 work session, framing staffing growth, facilities, a real-time crime center and wellness and accreditation programs as central to meeting the citys rapid growth.
Nissett said Goodyearpopulation estimates rose from about 116,694 to 122,569 residents (a roughly 5% increase) and calls for service increased from 78,974 in 2023 to 86,453 in 2024. To align operations with growth, the chief said the department needs to expand sworn staffing: the plan calls for 138 officers on patrol at full build-out, and last year's budget added 29 FTEs (21 sworn). The chief said about eight sworn vacancies remain, with roughly 20 candidates in background stages.
The plan's infrastructure components include a GSQ substation (Citrus & Harrison) intended as part of a three-precinct model and an evidence/property annex with forensic space. Nissett also described specialty-vehicle storage recently moved to a climate-controlled hangar at Phoenix Goodyear Airport.
A major technology element is the GRIT (Goodyear Real-time Intelligence & Tactical) center. Nissett said phase 1 is underway, with CAD/RMS integration, ALPR feeds, city intersection cameras and other sensors feeding a platform currently covered by an RFP. He said two of three GRIT staff have been selected and the department expects phased operational capability this summer or fall for peak periods, with full staffing later.
Council members raised response-time concerns (priority-1 calls averaged about 5 minutes and 20 seconds in the most recent figures) and emphasized that reducing response times depends on staffing increases. Nissett said improving response time is a top priority and tied to hiring and precinct deployment.
The presentation included debate about automated license-plate readers (ALPRs). Nissett described ALPR operations: cameras photograph plates and vehicle images, run them through ACIC/NCIC and hot lists, and notify officers only on hits; he said images generally do not contain usable facial images and that the cameras have produced numerous success stories including arrests for organized retail theft and homicide suspects. City legal staff acknowledged there is no Arizona statute explicitly addressing ALPRs and said the city has developed a defensible public-records policy that balances transparency and privacy concerns.
Nissett also proposed reorganizing the SWAT/special-assignments duties so the SWAT unit is no longer a tertiary duty of patrol, citing a 68% increase in tactical operations from 2022'2024 and a 152% increase in SAU operations in 2025. The plan calls for a wellness unit, leadership-development tracks, and pursuing Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program certification by FY28.
Next steps: the department is finalizing the GRIT platform procurement, expects near-term hardware and space build-out to complete, will present staffing and fiscal impacts as budget items and will continue working with the city attorney on public-records and ALPR policy.
