Mesa Police Department

The Mesa Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in Mesa, Arizona.[2] The department employs 1,202 police officers. The department is headed by Chief Ken Cost.[3]

Mesa Police Department
Agency overview
Employees1,202 (2020)
Annual budget$202 million (2021)[1]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionArizona, United States
Population508,979 (2018)
Legal jurisdictionMesa, AZ
Website
www.mesaaz.gov/residents/police
Mesa Police Department helicopter N507MP and pilot
1884 Mesa Territorial Jail cell

History

The Mesa police department has existed since 1880.[4]

In 1991, local newspapers reported on a wide-ranging sex scandal in the department. Various police officers seem to have been involved in the molestation of children and using their wives as bait to blackmail other members of the department.[5]

In 2016, a Mesa police officer, Philip Brailsford, shot Daniel Shaver five times and killed him in the hallway of a La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel in Mesa, while Shaver was on his hands and knees and following confusing and contradictory orders by the police. Brailsford was charged with second-degree murder and a lesser manslaughter charge, and found not guilty by a jury.[6] Prosecutors argued the shooting was unjustified.[7] Brailsford was reinstated in August 2018. Over a month later, he was granted retirement on medical grounds, as well as a pension of $2,500 per month.[8]

Then-Chief Ramon Batista resigned suddenly in 2019 after an attempt at reforms in the police department policies and training.[9]

A 2020 story by ABC News identified that "Mesa PD has a history of high-profile incidents involving excessive force" following the suspension of Officer Greg Clark. Assistant Chief Ed Wessing denied that problems existed in the force, while acknowledging that the public's trust was hurt.[10]

Organization
  • Airport Unit operates at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport[11]
  • Aviation Support Unit with two fixed-wing and three rotary-wing aircraft. The unit was established in 1986 and is based at Falcon Field Airport.[12][13]
  • Criminal Investigations Division[14]
  • SWAT/Tactical was established in 1975.[15]

Stations

The department operates four stations:[16]

  • Headquarters and Central 120 North Robson
  • Fiesta 1010 West Grove Avenue
  • Red Mountain 4333 East University Drive
  • Superstition 2430 South Ellsworth Road

References
  1. Sullivan, Carl; Baranauckas, Carla (June 26, 2020). "Here's how much money goes to police departments in largest cities across the U.S." USA Today. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020.
  2. "Mesa Police Department". Mesa, Arizona. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  3. "Police Chief Ramon Batista". Mesa, Arizona. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  4. "Mesa Police Department". waukeganweb.net. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  5. Rubin, Paul (6 November 1991). "The Scandal at the Mesa Police Department". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  6. Friedersdorf, Conor. "Footage of a Police Shooting That Jurors Chose Not to Punish". The Atlantic. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  7. Closing arguments set to begin in trial of former Mesa officer accused of murder, AZ Family.
  8. Burkitt, Bree; Garcia, Uriel (July 11, 2019). "Fired ex-Mesa police Officer Philip Brailsford rehired to help him get a public-safety pension". Arizona Republic. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  9. Maxouris, Christina (5 Nov 2019). "An Arizona police chief reformed his department and called for investigations. This week he resigned". CNN. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  10. Crenshaw, Zach (19 June 2020). "Mesa officer suspended twice for 'unnecessary force' on handcuffed suspects". ABS News 15. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  11. "Airport Unit (Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport)". Mesa, Arizona. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  12. Kimball, Darryl. "Arizona Mesa Police Department". Police Helicopter Pilot. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  13. "Aviation Support Unit". Mesa, Arizona. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  14. "Criminal Investigation Division". Mesa, Arizona. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  15. "SWAT/Tactical". Mesa, Arizona. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  16. "Phone Numbers & Org Chart". Mesa Arizona. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
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