Phoenix police chief resigns, city to restart search for new chief

Michael Sullivan, who has served as the interim chief of the Phoenix Police Department since 2022, has resigned, Sullivan and the city announced Tuesday evening. Sullivan has also pulled his name from consideration for the permanent job.

Phoenix was set to hire a permanent chief from among four candidates — all of whom participated in a lackluster community forum last month — but City Manager Jeff Barton said the city will restart the search for a new chief from scratch. The city "incorporate(d) feedback from the community and the department" in making that decision, according a press release.

“When I accepted this role, the department was under a Department of Justice (DOJ) Pattern and Practice investigation and facing significant challenges,” Sullivan wrote in the release and in a resignation letter that ABC 15 obtained and published. “Throughout my tenure, I’ve worked diligently to navigate that process while focusing on crime reduction, strengthening community trust, and building a culture of continuous improvement. I am incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made as a department and of the dedication demonstrated by our officers and staff.”

Executive Assistant Chief Dennis Orender will serve as acting police chief but will not be a candidate for the permanent job, the city said.

“I’m appreciative for Interim Chief Michael Sullivan’s service to the Phoenix Police Department," said outgoing Phoenix City Councilmember Carlos Galindo-Elvira in a text to Phoenix New Times. "During his term, the road to reform began toward becoming a self assessing and correcting agency. That objective does not end with his departure. In fact, the path forward of continuous improvement must be rigorous and consistent.”

Sullivan was brought on to lead the department in September 2022 after the resignation of troubled ex-Chief Jeri Williams. Though Sullivan has pushed for some reforms — which may have contributed to his unpopularity with the rank-and-file — he and the city of Phoenix also pushed hard against accepting independent oversight from federal authorities. Despite that, his stewardship was still marred by scandal.

Last June, the DOJ released a long-awaited report that summed up a multi-year investigation into Phoenix police that found that Phoenix cops regularly violated the civil rights of unhoused people and minorities while also using excessive and even deadly force far more than was warranted. Though the report covered a period that mostly fell under the purview of Sullivan's predecessor, the department continued to make bad headlines under his stewardship.

Most notably, Phoenix police are facing a lawsuit over the August beating and arrest of a deaf Black man with cerebral palsy. Last month, Sullivan issued 24-hour suspensions to the three cops involved, a punishment many police critics felt was glaringly light. Phoenix police have also shot and killed more people each year since 2022.

In the city's release, Barton thanked Sullivan for his efforts.

“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Interim Chief Michael Sullivan,” Barton said. “He stepped into a challenging role and helped guide our department through a critical time. His dedication to the community and to the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department left a lasting impact. The continuous improvement processes he implemented will continue to develop, improving public safety in our community for years to come."

Sullivan was one of four candidates vying for the permanent gig. The other three were Oakland Deputy Chief Casey Johnson, Phoenix police head of investigations Ed DeCastro, and Mesa Assistant Chief Ed Wessing. Wessing faced scrutiny due to sexual harassment allegations made about him years ago, though it's not clear if that played any role in the city deciding to start its search anew. The city's release did not lay out why Phoenix is moving on from the original four finalists.

The city will begin accepting applications for the position on April 11. Per the city's release, community feedback — including feedback already gathered during the first search — will play a role in selecting a new chief to lead the department.

“We are committed to finding a highly qualified and capable individual who will serve as an exceptional leader for our community and our department,” Barton said. “The initial recruitment process provided us with valuable insights from residents and stakeholders, and we’ll use that guidance to move forward with confidence.”