PHOENIX — The City of Phoenix has announced the new chief of the Phoenix Police Department.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Matthew Giordano will take the role as the top cop in Phoenix.
Giordano currently serves as the executive director of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST).
ABC15 spoke with Matthew Giordano during the candidate search to learn more about his qualifications and goals. Hear from him in the player below.
Previously, he was the executive chief of enforcement for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and is a retired Phoenix PD commander, having completed more than 20 years of service.
Giordano has a Bachelor of Science degree in Purchasing and Logistics Management from Arizona State University and a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University.
The nationwide search for a new chief began for a second time in December, after city officials restarted the recruitment process.
The announcement came after then-Interim Chief Michael Sullivan decided to withdraw his candidacy. Months later, it was announced that Sullivan was appointed as the new U.S. Capitol Police Chief.
Last month, Giordano was among three finalists in the second search:
- Matthew Giordano: He is the current Executive Director of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST).
- Malik Aziz: He has more than 35 years of law enforcement experience, most of which was with the Dallas Police Department.
- Mirtha V. Ramos: She began her career with the Miami-Dade Police Department in 1997. She ascended to the rank of Division Chief and served until 2019, when she was appointed Chief of Police of the DeKalb County Police Department in Georgia.
See one-on-one interviews with each of the candidates in the video player below:
Following the announcement, officials with the City of Phoenix provided statements:
“This selection reflects what we heard from residents, officers, and community stakeholders,” said City Manager Jeff Barton. “Matt Giordano is a respected leader with deep knowledge of policing in Phoenix, and he has earned a reputation for integrity, accountability, and building trust.”
“I am pleased to welcome back Matthew Giordano to the Phoenix Police Department as our new Police Chief. Chief Giordano has a deep understanding of law enforcement and Phoenix as well as the skills and experience to lead our great department. I look forward to working with him to keep our city safe and continue the reforms instituted by the City Council,” Mayor Kate Gallego said. “I also want to thank Acting Police Chief Dennis Orender, who did an excellent job over the last few months, for his continued service to our city and the department.”
"Without a doubt I know he will, with his extensive involvement in the community, serve the citizens of Phoenix and the women and men of the Phoenix Police Department well," stated Kevin Robinson, Chairman of the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee. "I believe that being an exceptional communicator is the most important skill in law enforcement. Matt Giordano has made many stops throughout his career, working with nearly every community in Phoenix, and has done a great job at each stop, interacting within that diversity of neighborhoods."
Multiple Valley cities have recently announced new police chiefs, including Mesa and Glendale. Both cities chose decades-long department veterans to become the next chiefs.
Glendale's newest police chief, Colby Brandt, served as the interim chief following the retirement of Glendale's previous chief, Chris Briggs, earlier this year.
