City of Phoenix announces finalists for police chief post

PHOENIX - The city of Phoenix is a step closer to naming a permanent police chief, and the four finalists took the stage in a public forum on the night of March 19 to answer why they're the right person for the job.

What we know:

The four finalists are:

• Interim police chief Michael Sullivan, who assumed the position in July 2022. He came to Phoenix from the Baltimore Police Department.
• Assistant Chief Ed DeCastro, who is currently the assistant chief of investigations with Phoenix Police, and has been with the department for 24 years in a handful of roles.
• Casey Johnson, who has 23 years of experience with the police department in Oakland, Calif., and is currently their deputy chief with oversight on field and special operations.
• Ed Wessing, who is the Assistant Chief with Mesa Police, leading training, human resources, fiscal, community relations and forensics.

The Human Resources Director for the City of Phoenix, David Mathews, said the selection process has taken in community input every step of the way.

What they're saying:

The four finalists were put in the hot seat for two hours of Q&A, and those with questions did not hold back.

Here are some notable quotes from each candidate:

Sullivan

"It's about leading police departments and fighting crime, making sure that we do this with accountability, and we're focused on community engagement. That's what we are going to do. That's what I did when I got here. When we start talking, we started talking about crime," Sullivan said.

Wessing

"By sitting alongside with them and listening to what they're really dealing with today, because it's been 15 years since I really effectively worked as a patrol officer. So, what I did is, I went, and I put on a uniform and I worked alongside with them. That's the type of communication that I believe, is my, my primary, biggest strength," Wessing said.

Johnson

"I'm not going to know all the answers to every question that may come up when you are in that leadership position. So, being able to give those individuals around you a voice and an ability to provide input, I also think is one of my biggest strengths," Johnson said.

DeCastro

"The one thing that you can't recreate is over 24 years of experience in the city of Phoenix. I have worked myself through the ranks up to this level. I know the people. I know the streets. I have partnerships. I have relationships, and I'm able to leverage all of those if selected as chief," DeCastro said.

Each candidate was asked about the department's new use of force policy. The candidates talked about making sure officers understand the new policy and have enough training with it so they feel safe while keeping the community safe.

What's next:

A new police chief is expected to be announced in April. The city manager is in charge of appointing police chiefs.