Police chief says officers are doing job
by Connie Cone Sexton - Jun. 20, 2008 11:37 AM
The Arizona Republic
The city's revised policy on immigration has been in force for about a month, but it hasn't changed the main mission of the Phoenix Police Department one bit, said Chief Jack Harris.

Phoenix officers now are to question anyone arrested about their legal status.

"If you're a criminal, if you're a bad guy, you could be arrested," then deported if you are illegal, Harris said Thursday at Councilwoman Maria Baier's community breakfast.


Despite the controversy over the policy, Harris remains clear on the focus of his department.

"It's public safety," he said.

That means not cutting into man-hours to have police officers stand on street corners to hunt for illegal immigrants, Harris said.

His comments hinted at the criticism by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who has called the policy too lenient.


Recruiting problem

One of the toughest jobs for the Phoenix Police Department has been to recruit new officers, Harris told a large crowd Thursday in north Phoenix.

In fall 2007, Phoenix voters approved a sales-tax increase to add public-safety employees: 500 for the Police Department (400 sworn officers, 100 support staff members) and 100 for the Fire Department.

"There's been a significant recruiting problem," Harris said during Councilwoman Maria Baier's community breakfast at the Fraternal Order of Police Hall, 12851 N. 19th Ave.

The department set a goal of hiring about 200 officers a year.

"But we normally have an attrition of 150 people a year," Harris said.

Adding 350 employees is difficult with police departments and other public-safety organizations across the country doing their own recruiting, he said.

"They're recruiting the same people" we are, Harris said. That causes salaries to go up and creates a need to expand training academies.

Harris said Phoenix recruiters are highlighting the city's qualities. "When it's freezing in the Midwest, we show them pictures of Phoenix," he said.

Another good source of employees for the department are those who are just getting out of the military, Harris said.

The city's hard work has paid off with the first 200 positions filled, Harris said.

"Jan. 1, we'll start all over again for the next 200," he said.










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