The Scottsdale Police Department has divided the city into three police districts. We deploy our officers within these districts to best meet the current needs of the community.
The Scottsdale Police Department is a full service 24/7 policing operation across three districts with 20 beats. Agency personnel work under the direction of Police Chief Jeff Walther and is divided into three major bureaus.
All three bureaus fall under an Assistant Chief of Police. The Scottsdale Police Department includes 400 sworn officers and 263.7 civilian employees. Civilian roles include but are not limited to communications dispatchers, laboratory scientists, crisis intervention specialists, analysts, records specialists, and police aides, which are staffed across each of the three bureaus.
Uniformed Services Bureau
The Police Uniformed Services Bureau provides front-line law enforcement services around the clock out of three districts, McKellips, Via Linda, Foothills, and includes Special Operations. District police officers respond to calls for service and critical incidents, initial criminal and traffic collision investigations, traffic enforcement and education, and community policing and outreach. The Special Operations Division, through the Patrol Enforcement Section and Traffic Enforcement Section, provides additional services to the department, including traffic enforcement, bicycle patrol, mounted patrol, canine support, street-based priority patrol, school safety with crisis canine support, special events management and staffing, prisoner detention, and specialized crisis response.
View Uniformed Services Bureau Organization Chart
The City of Scottsdale has used photo enforcement technology since 1996 to supplement police department efforts to reduce red-light running and speeding.
Learn about our photo enforcement program
Scottsdale off-duty police officers can be hired by the public to perform security and traffic control services. Officers are often hired to provide security and traffic control at large and small events, traffic control for projects in the roadway, security for meetings, and many other situations.
Professional Standards and Investigative Services Bureau
The Professional Standards and Investigative Services Bureau provides investigative support and oversees the training of department staff, and includes Investigations, Professional Standards, and Forensic Services. Investigations is comprised of specialized detectives and analysts responsible for completing thorough and complex investigations, including persons and property crimes, as well as drug enforcement and tactical response. Professional Standards includes the Community Engagement Section, Internal Affairs, and Training. This department has oversight of the incident review boards, the Honor Guard program, and department Chaplains. Forensic Services is an accredited laboratory and crime scene service that ensures all investigations successful disposition through the identification, documentation, collection, analysis, and preservation of physical evidence. Crisis Intervention is composed of credentialed behavioral health specialists that provide crisis counseling and referral services for victim-related, accident-related, and behavioral health emergencies.
View Professional Standards and Investigative Services Bureau Organization Chart
Operational Services Bureau
The Operational Services Bureau provides operational, technical, and administrative support to the division, and includes Technical Services, Strategic Initiatives, Personnel Services, and Support Services. The department works in collaboration with other city departments providing administrative support in areas of information technology, citywide municipal security, logistics, budgeting, strategic planning, research and accreditation, policy development, police records, recruitment and background investigations, employee wellness, 9-1-1 communications, and real-time crime center operations.