The Phoenix Police Department (PHXPD) serves as the local law enforcement agency for the city of Phoenix, Arizona. It is responsible for patrolling almost five hundred and sixteen square miles of the city, which is the six largest in the United States of America. According to their website:
“The mission of the Phoenix Police Department is to provide community-oriented law enforcement designed to protect life and property, and maintain order, while assuring fair and equal treatment for all.”
The PHXPD is comprised of six divisions: Patrol, Management Services, Support Services, Investigations, Strategic Services, and Reserve. The city is divided into eight precincts for the Patrol Division. The Desert Horizon Precinct covers a 74.92 square mile area with a population of approximately 311,770 residents. The Black Mountain Precinct covers a 182 square mile area with a population of approximately 224,000 residents. The Cactus Park Precinct covers a 30 square mile area with a population of approximately 188,000 residents. The Mountain View Precinct covers a 36.71 square mile area with a population of approximately 214,386 residents. The Central City Precinct covers a 18 square mile area with a population of approximately 91,000 residents. The Estrella Mountain Precinct is a new precinct that covers a 69 square mile area and has a brand new 25,000 square foot state of the art facility. The Maryvale Precinct covers a 15.23 square mile area with a population of approximately 116,160 residents. The South Mountain Precinct covers a 115 square mile area with a population of approximately 271,785 residents. The Investigations Division is comprised of the Family Investigations Bureau, the Violent Crimes Bureau, the Property Crimes Bureau, the Major Offender Unit, the Drug Enforcement Bureau, and the Quality Assurance Unit.
Phoenix, Arizona has a population of 1,485,509 and experiences a current average of 70,235 crimes per annum. Violent crime accounts for 13 percent of those crimes with murders at 123 (0.08 per 1000 residents), rapes at 556 (0.37 per 1000 residents), robberies at 3,516 (2.37 per 1000 residents), and assaults at 5,263 (3.54 per 1000 residents) for a grand total of 9,458 violent crimes per annum (6.37 per 1000 residents). Property crimes account for the other 87 percent of those crimes with burglary at 17,912 (12.06 per 1000 residents), thefts at 35,678 (24.02 per 1000 residents), and motor vehicle thefts at 7,187 (4.84 per 1000 residents) for a grand total of 60,777 property crimes per annum (40.91 per 1000 residents). Overall, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona has a 1 in 157 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 24 chance of becoming a victim of a property crime each year.
Under the Arizona Public Records Law, the PHXPD maintains and offers various records and documents for public request. The Public Records Detail is located at 1717 East Grant St. Suite#100 Phoenix, AZ 85034, is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excepting for city holidays.
A Letter of Clearance (review of criminal history) may be obtained only, according to Arizona’s Public Records Law, for yourself. This will only include PHXPD records and thus will not contain any information from other jurisdictions. You will need a valid government issued photo ID, a fingerprint card, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. You can get fingerprinted at your local police agency for a fee of six dollars per fingerprint card. The request for a Letter of Clearance may be submitted in person at the Public Records Detail or by mail to
Phoenix Police DepartmentCode Enforcement unit – Public Records1717 East Grant St. Suite#100Phoenix, AZ 85034-3401
There will be a fee assessed for the request, $8.50 with no arrest record or $28.50 with an arrest record. Checks should be made payable to the City of Phoenix.
Departmental or other reports released under the Public Records Law may be obtained similarly from the Public Records Detail’s office by submitting a request, either in person or by mail, to that office using their Portal. Accident reports may be obtained from phoenix.gov/police/.
If you believe someone you know may currently be held in the City of Phoenix Jail System, you can obtain information about them, including where they are located, by calling the Maricopa County Jail automated Information Hot Line at (602) 876-0322. This system operates by voice command and provides general as well as specific information. To find information on a specific inmate, you will need either their correct first name, last name, and date of birth, or you will need the inmate’s booking number.