Goodyear Police Department
Originally founded in 1946, Goodyear, AZ is now one of the top 10 fastest growing cities in the country. Nestled in the foothills of the Estrella Mountains, Goodyear is in the west valley, a short 10-15 minute drive from Phoenix. Goodyear has become a very desirable location for families and businesses alike. With a population of just over 106,000 people, the community is served by 231 employees at the police department.
The Goodyear Police Department prides itself on connecting with the community and educating ourselves on the needs of those we serve. The partnership that we have formed with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) is one that we are extremely proud of, and it is a relationship that we look forward to strengthening in the years to come.
Our department strives to serve the community and protect our most vulnerable from harm. The autism certification program gets us that much closer to achieving our goals. We want everyone that lives, works, or visits our city to feel safe and at home.
The Goodyear Police Department is dedicated to serving every facet of our community, championing inclusivity at its core. In 2022, we introduced the Exceptional Student Day Camp, a unique initiative designed to invite students with neurodiversity into the police department, offering hands-on experiences in the police career field—from fingerprinting to interacting with K9s, and exploring equipment such as command vehicles and motorcycles.
Our department has equipped patrol officers with specially designed backpacks, aiding them in responding to calls involving individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. These backpacks contain essential items, including communication cards for non-verbal interactions, earmuffs, sensory toys, as well as water and snacks. This thoughtful deployment underscores our ongoing commitment to creating a safer and more supportive environment for all members of our diverse community.
To further enhance our services for vulnerable residents, the Goodyear Police Department has launched a voluntary Vulnerable Population Database Registration Program. This program empowers residents to provide critical information, including a photo, and offers recommendations on approaching individuals with specific needs. This information will be utilized by our telecommunications team to generate computer alerts for names and addresses associated with conditions such as autism/Asperger’s syndrome, deaf/low hearing, Alzheimer’s disease/dementia, diabetes, intellectual disability, and other diagnosed mental health issues identified by the resident. Through these initiatives, we strive to ensure that our responses are tailored to the unique needs of each resident, fostering a safer and more supportive community for everyone.
