Arizona Department of Public Safety

Following legislation in 1968, the Arizona Department of Public Safety was established by the executive order of Arizona Governor Jack Williams on July 1, 1969. This order amalgamated the functions and responsibilities of the Arizona Highway Patrol, the Law Enforcement Division of the state Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, and the Narcotics Division of the state Department of Law.

In its 50-plus years of service, the department has become an organization dedicated to protecting and providing state-level law enforcement services to the public, and developing partnerships with agencies sharing similar missions.

In 2015, a Rebranding effort began. First, the Title of "officer" was changed to "State Trooper" to more align with other Highway Patrol agencies nationally. Second, and most visible to the public, the white and blue police car was changed entirely to a silver and black paint scheme. The cars are the most visible part of DPS, and the paint/logo scheme had not changed in 50 years.{{Cite web |title=DPS Evolves with New Branding and a New Image {{!}} Arizona State Troopers Association |url=https://aztroopers.org/enews/dps-evolves-with-new-branding-and-a-new-image |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=aztroopers.org}}

File:AR-HP Ford PIU.jpg

The department consists of five divisions: Office of the Director, Highway Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Technical Services, and Agency Support. Together, these five divisions provide scientific, technical, operational, and regulatory services to Arizona residents, and to the state's criminal justice community; one of the more famous subdivisions of the Criminal Investigations Division is the "Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission" task force (better known as "GIITEM"), which was formed to combat the growing gang infestation problems mainly in Maricopa County (the Phoenix area), even though their jurisdiction is statewide.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azdps.gov/organization|title = Organization | Arizona Department of Public Safety}}

In 2011, the Arizona State Capitol Police department was merged with DPS, alongside the Highway Patrol Division. ASCP was responsible for the State Capitol Mall in Phoenix and the Tucson State Complex. Today, the Capitol Police still exists and patrols the Capitol grounds, but they are now full DPS officers, and use DPS cars, logos, and uniforms. Capitol police officers wear special Capitol Police patches on their uniforms.

In 2022, a pilot program was initiated to assign ADOT commercial enforcement officers to the DPS commercial enforcement division.{{Cite web |title=Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) {{!}} Arizona Department of Public Safety |url=https://www.azdps.gov/organization/HPD/cve |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=www.azdps.gov}}

The department-issued vehicles of the Arizona DPS include the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, Ford Police Interceptor Sedan, Chevrolet Tahoe PPV, Chevrolet Camaro SS, Ford Mustang GT, Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Charger Pursuit. Unmarked units can include any of the same vehicles as marked units along with the Dodge Challenger. Motorcycle units can include the Kawasaki Concours 14P, BMW R1150, BMW R1200, and Honda ST1300. The handgun issued as the department weapon is the Glock 17 Generation 5, chambered in 9MM, and carried with three to four 17-round magazines. The long guns issued as department weapons are the Colt AR15A2, Colt M16A2, or Colt M4, supplied with two 30-round magazines. The 12-gauge Remington 870 shotguns are not authorized for carrying and have been modified for less-lethal munitions. SWAT Troopers are issued selective fire, short-barreled rifles.

{{Infobox government agency

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Counter Terrorism Information Center

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|formed = October 2004{{cite web|title=Arizona fusion center|url=http://www.azdps.gov/about/Task_Forces/Fusion/|publisher=Arizona Department of Public Safety|accessdate=17 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228193448/http://www.azdps.gov/About/Task_Forces/Fusion/|archive-date=28 February 2012|url-status=dead}}

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Since 2004 the ADPS has maintained the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC), a fusion center that operates 24/7 with the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, FBI and other agencies.

The Agency Support Division supports DPS and other allied agencies in the state. Key services include but are not limited to Air Support Bureau, Human resources, Facilities, Fleet, and Support Services.

The Aviation Bureau manages the air assets of DPS, the most important of these is the Ranger Air Rescue Program. The program has 4 bases located in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Kingman and Tucson. The Program provides SAR, Physical Rescue, (long line, hoist, Short haul, and Rappel) and other logistical support, like wildland "Bambi Bucket" water drops to aid in wildland firefighting. Aeromedical transport is available if traditional services are not .{{Cite web |title=Aviation {{!}} Arizona Department of Public Safety |url=https://www.azdps.gov/organization/ASD/aviation |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=www.azdps.gov}} All Helicopters are Bell 407s and one Bell 429. Crew staffing is 1 pilot and one Paramedic flight observer.{{Cite web |date=2019-08-17 |title=Safer is Better - AZ DPS |url=https://www.heliopsmag.com/safer-is-better-az-dps |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=www.heliopsmag.com |language=en}}

In 2015, the assets of Arizona Dept. of Transportation and DPS were combined under DPS's umbrella. There are now a total of 15 aircraft assigned.

OPCOMM is the Operational Communications Bureau, the dispatch and 9-1-1 answering point for DPS. There are 2 Dispatch centers, Phoenix , and Tucson. A Third Center used to operate in Flagstaff for the northern counties but closed in 2020 due to lack of available staff.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=SCOTT BUFFON Sun Staff |title=Flagstaff DPS dispatch center announces closure; employees concerned |url=https://azdailysun.com/news/flagstaff-dps-dispatch-center-announces-closure-employees-concerned/article_0ea3d6ae-95a4-5fc9-b327-9d3341b51660.html |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=Arizona Daily Sun |date=15 February 2019 |language=en}} They dispatch for the entire agency, including Task forces, such as GITTEM, Criminal Investigations and the Aviation Bureau. 100 personnel assigned answer over 700,000 calls for service each year.{{Cite web |title=Operational Communication (OpComm) Bureau {{!}} Arizona Department of Public Safety |url=https://www.azdps.gov/organization/TSD/opcomm |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=www.azdps.gov}}

As of July 2018 (Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number):

Since the establishment of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, 30 troopers and 4 K9s have died while on duty.[http://www.odmp.org/agency/136-arizona-department-of-public-safety-arizona The Officer Down Memorial Page] The agency, along with the Arizona Highway Patrol Association, remembers each fallen officer at an annual memorial ceremony on the first Monday of May.{{cite web|url=http://www.ahpa.com/fallen-dps-heroes |title=Fallen DPS Heroes : Arizona Highway Patrol Association |access-date=2015-02-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320000443/http://www.ahpa.com/fallen-dps-heroes |archive-date=2015-03-20 }}

{{Portal|Arizona}}

• List of law enforcement agencies in Arizona
• State police
• Highway patrol

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.azdps.gov/ Arizona Department of Public Safety]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061004144916/http://www.homelandsecurity.az.gov/index.htm Arizona Department of Homeland Security]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061004140257/http://www.azdps.gov/information/default.asp Arizona Agencies]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061010212049/http://www.dem.state.az.us/ Arizona Division of Emergency Management]
• [http://www.ready.gov/ Ready.gov]
• [http://www.ahpa.com/ Arizona Highway Patrol Association]

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Category:History of Arizona

Public Safety

Highway Patrol

Public Safety

Category:Government agencies established in 1969

Category:1969 establishments in Arizona