Mohave Today

City of Tempe issued the following announcement on Aug. 4.

Tempe City Manager Andrew Ching has appointed Jeff Glover to fill the permanent role as the city’s Police Chief following a nine-month period as Interim Chief.

Glover rejoined the department as Interim Chief in October 2020, after retiring from a 20-year career with Tempe Police. He is the city’s first African American Police Chief.

According to the Tempe City Charter, the City Manager has ultimate hiring authority for city employees, including hiring and management of the role of Police Chief. Ching decided that Glover’s performance in the interim role more than proved his ability to do the job.

“I believe I already have the best person to lead the Tempe Police Department in Chief Glover,” Ching said. “Last year, he immediately got to work to advance the department internally and externally. Chief Glover is respected by Police employees, community members and his peers locally and nationally – we already have so much to build on for the future with Jeff.”

Glover has a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Northern Arizona University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Phoenix. He began as a Mesa Police patrol officer in 1998, and after joining Tempe Police in 1999, Glover held increasingly responsible roles in various divisions of the department, including about four years as a Commander over areas such as the Professional Standards Bureau, Organizational Services Division and Criminal/Special Investigations and SWAT.

Since June 2018, Glover has served as a Governor-appointed Commissioner on the Arizona Commission for African American Affairs. He also has served as a national board member and Arizona chapter member for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).

“I am humbled by the trust that you all – community members, fellow employees, City Manager Ching, and the City Council – have placed in me to lead this outstanding organization,” said Chief Glover. “Protecting and serving as a Tempe Police Officer for over two decades has been a blessing and a privilege. To be selected as permanent Chief of Police is the honor of a lifetime.”

Since last fall, Glover has created new community and employee connection opportunities to increase transparency and provide voices for those who can help shape the department. He served as a member of Mayor Corey Woods’ Public Safety Advisory Task Force, which was formed to plan for the future of policing in Tempe and to increase trust in policing. That effort has now broadened into a Community Safety strategic planning effort, which Glover and other department and city staff members are currently working on. Ching said it is important to ensure continuity and momentum in that effort through Glover’s involvement and commitment.

“We look forward to working with Chief Glover to make sure Tempe residents continue to have one of the best police departments in Arizona,” said Sgt. Rob Ferraro, President of the Tempe Officers Association. “We have come to know and respect the Chief, and we know he will do everything he can to hire and retain excellent police officers, and to move the Tempe Police Department forward through some very challenging times for law enforcement.”

Original source can be found here.