History Of The Department
Author:
Summary:
Historical information about the Yuma Police Department.
Published On:
9/13/2007Last Updated:
12/4/20091914 - Yuma Police Department was established with the Chief of Law Enforcement being Town Marshall Henry Levy.
1915 - The Police Chief becomes an elected position, Chief Henry Levy is elected.
1921 - Samuel L. Kelly elected Police Chief.
1922 - Dept. personnel total: 1 Chief, 2 Police Officers, Department budget: $6850.00, Population: 4389.
1923 - Henry Levy re-elected Police Chief. First police telephone placed on Main St. and Second St.
1926 - First Police Sergeant promoted (Perry Allman).
1929 - Police Department offices placed in City Hall. The first police uniforms worn – forest green shirts and pants, black Sam Brown belt and brown shoes.
1933 - Isaac Polhamus elected Police Chief.
1935 - Yuma Sheriff’s Office sets up short wave radio service with El Centro and Phoenix Police.
1937 - Uniforms are changed to navy blue in color.
1939 - First Yuma Police training school established.
1940 - Two-way radios installed in police vehicles.
1942 - Yuma Police Reserves are established.
1943 - Chief of Police becomes an appointed position.
1944 - Harold Breech is the first appointed Chief of Police.
1945 - Work shifts for Police Officers are changed from seven twelve-hour days to six ten-hour days.
1947 - Teletype system is installed at the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office. Two Yuma Police Officers are shot and wounded, Ray Snailum and Doyle Breech.
1948 - Yuma Police Department Rules and Regulations are established.
1949 - The first “Paddy Wagon” is placed in service.
1952 - The first motorcycle is placed into service (three wheeled).
1954 - The Yuma Police Department Deputy Chief position is created (Robert Mabery).
1956 - A city pension plan goes into effect for police officers.
1960 - The first Yuma Police Department Captain position created (William Burke). Robert L. Mabery is appointed Chief of Police.
1961 - Sgt Ray Dehn replaces Burke as Police Captain.
1962 - Competitive examinations are established for police appointments.
1967 - Joseph L. Hickey appointed Chief of Police. First air-conditioned patrol car (whew!).
1968 - The Arizona Law Enforcement Officers Advisory Council (ALEOAC) is created by the
State of Arizona to set a statewide standard of certification and training for peace officers. Arthur Fairbanks is appointed Yuma’s eighth Chief of Police. The Yuma Police Department moves into a new facility with a jail at 1500 South 1st Avenue.
1969 - First Yuma Police Academy is conducted by ALEOAC. A countywide narcotics task force is established. Powell L. Elkins is appointed Chief of Police.
1973 - Went from fixed mobile radio to removable radio.
1975 - Shoulder patch changed to City of Yuma seal.
1976 - The city combines the Police and Fire Departments into one agency, creating the Department of Public Safety. Chief Powell Elkins is appointed Director of the Department of Public Safety, in addition to his Police Chief duties. The Deputy Police Chief position is recreated (Harold “Bud” Avery).
1978 - The Department of Public Safety is again separated into Fire and Police Departments. First female officers – Carolyn Burton and Cindy Anderson. Special Enforcement Team (SET) formed with 6 officers.
1980 - Chief Powell Elkins retires and David W. Brown is appointed. Department personnel total: 68 officers, 19 civilians, Department budget: $2.5 million, Jurisdiction: 18 square miles.
1981 - The Deputy Police Chief position is reclassified to a Captain position and the department is reorganized into two major divisions – Field Services and Support Services, both headed by Captains – Bud Avery and Richard Leffler.
1984 - Work shifts changed from 5 8-hour days to 4 10-hour days.
1986 - On April 9th Officer Gary A. Maas is the first Yuma Police Officer killed in the line of duty, shot while trying to apprehend a suspect. Department provides bullet-proof vests to officers.
1988 - William “Robby” Robinson is appointed as the 11th Chief of Police. 9-1-1 goes live. Department personnel total: 87 officers, 30 civilians, Department budget: $5 million, Jurisdiction: 22 square miles.
1990 - Department purchases Sig Sauer semi-automatic handguns to replace officer owned revolvers.
1995 - On July 4th Yuma Police Lieutenant Daniel Powell Elkins and Arizona Department of Public Safety Sergeant Mike Crowe were shot and killed in the line of duty. Bicycle unit created.
1996 - On February 6th the first Citizens Police Academy is held. Shoulder patch changed to the current logo.
1997 - First canine team formed with Officer Raebel and his dog Tiko.
1998 - Department personnel total: 124 officers, 56 civilians, Department budget: $11.5 million, Jurisdiction: 34 square miles.
1999 - Move into new building located immediately south of old building.
2001 - Gang detail unit created with 2 full-time officers.
2002 - Computer forensic position created.
2003 - Department acquires first ATV’s and golf carts for alternate patrol methods.
2004 - MDC’s (mobile data computers) installed in patrol cars.
2005 - Department personnel total: 161 officers, 88 civilians, Department budget: $22,801,489, Jurisdiction: 109.1 square miles.
2006 - YPD promotes first female Police Lieutenant, Susan Otero
2008 - Department personnel total: 177 officers, 92 civilians, Department budget: $26,384,784, Jurisdiction: 112.56 square miles.
2009 - Jerry Geier is appointed as the 12th Chief of Police Department personnel total: 172 officers, 84 civilians, Department budget: $22,705,921 Jurisdiction: 112 square miles.
2009 - Chief Geier promotes the first female Captain, Susan Otero, and assigns her to the newly formed Investigations Division. A major reorganization of the department resulted in the creation of the Investigations Division, the third police division along with Field Services and Support Services. Two additional Lieutenants positions were also created, bringing our total to eight.
