Departments Administrative
Services Administrative Services Section Chief Jim Maxson
Field Services Division
Included in the Field Services Division are the Patrol Section, Traffic Unit, Photo Enforcement/Special Events Unit, the Community Resource Team, and the Special Response Team. The Patrol Section is divided into six squads supervised by six Patrol Sergeants. Each squad also has a designated Corporal. Each Corporal oversees a geographic district of the Town of Prescott Valley. Find your district and learn why this is important to you. The Patrol Section patrols 37 square miles of Prescott Valley which includes annexed areas. The officers' primary responsibilities are to respond to calls for service, investigate crimes against persons and property, enforce traffic laws, investigate traffic accidents, and make arrests when necessary. The Patrol Section operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. The Community Resource Team (CRT) was formed early in 2009 to provide additional flexibility in proactively combatting crime in the area. The CRT is comprised of one sergeant, one corporal, five patrol officers and one K9 officer. The CRT backfills or augments regular shifts when needed, provides overlap coverage during the afternoon and evening, proactively works specific criminal activities, works with other patrol officers to identify crime trends, and works to combat gangs, narcotics, and street level graffiti.
Prescott Valley Police Department wishes to extend a special thank you to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety for their support and assistance of our traffic enforcement efforts through the funding of various traffic-related safety grants. The Photo Enforcement/Special Events Unit is headed by Project Manager Lieutenant Wayne Nelson with assistance from Sgt. Mark Postula. Together they manage the Town's Photo Enforcement Program and coordinate community requests for police presence at special events. Questions concerning photo enforcement or requests for special police services may be directed to Sgt. Postula at (928)772-5144 or mpostula@pvaz.net. In April 2004, the Police Department added a K-9 Unit (canine) to its Patrol Section. The first "special agent," a purebred German Shepherd named Qwest, was retired in the summer of 2007. Another canine named Joey, a Belgian Malenois, was added to Patrol in May 2006 and is partnered with K-9 Officer Paul Hines. In the Winter of 2008, two more Belgian Malenois were added: Ike was partnered with Officer Dave McNally, and Bojar is partnered with Officer Kevin O'Hagan. To read more about the K-9 Program, click here. The Special Response Team (SRT) mobilizes on a moment's notice to emergency situations such as potential suicides, armed and/or barricaded suspects, or hostage situations. Prior to appointment as an SRT member, officers undergo extensive training and extremely rigorous tests of skills, physical conditioning, agility, and tactics. Support Services Division
The Support Services Commander acts as the Department's liaison with the Regional Communications Dispatch Center Several units of the Support Services Division are headed by Administrative Sergeant Brandon Bonney. Reporting to Sgt. Bonney are the D.A.R.E. Program officer, School Resource Officers, Community Service Officers (see paragraph below), and Animal Control officers.. Community Service Officers (CSOs). A bi-lingual CSO is assigned to the Traffic Unit, one CSO is assigned to the Patrol Section, and the third is a crime prevention specialist who works primarily with members of the community. For police reports requiring no follow-up information or evidence retrieval, a citizen might receive a telephone call from a CSO who will take the report via phone. These types of reports may include lost cell phones, suspicious activity, or information reports.
Detective status is awarded through a competitive testing and selection process. Following assignment to CIS, detectives receive specialized training in forensics and a wide variety of felony crimes. CIS is sub-divided into three areas: person-related crimes (homicide/death, sex crimes and aggravated assaults), property-related crimes (vandalism, burglaries, thefts and pawn shops), and general investigations (financial crimes, missing persons, etc.). The Regional Communications Dispatch Center is a combined communications facility operated jointly by Prescott Valley, Prescott, and surrounding jurisdictions' emergency service agencies. It is housed at the Prescott Police Department where dispatchers work alongside those of other agencies. The non-emergency telephone number for the Dispatch Center is (928) 772-9267. The Records Section is comprised of a Records Supervisor, four Records Clerks and two part-time Records Receptionists. They are responsible for providing initial customer service to visitors of the police station and for the distribution of police reports. Records Section staff enter data from officers' reports into a crime-reporting database, and they maintain the filing system for all written reports. The Records Section can be reached at (928) 772-9261 or pdrecords@pvaz.net. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday though Friday, except holidays. The Records Section is housed in the front lobby of the police station and has a Spanish-speaking receptionist available during business hours. The following is required to obtain a police record:
If report number is not known, the following is required:
Requests will be handled promptly based on the nature and extent of the request. If more than 10 days is required (from the date of the request), you will be notified. Other services provided by the Records Section include:
The Prescott Valley Animal Control Unit is comprised of two Animal Control Officers (ACOs) and an Animal Control Supervisor, Robin Petrovsky. These officers respond to calls concerning lost, stray, or abandoned animals, complaints of loose animals, barking annoyances, etc. Prescott Valley Animal Control asks that you spay and neuter all pets to prevent unwanted or abandoned animals. The Town of Prescott Valley also requires all dogs to be licensed. Our ACO's can more easily return lost pets when they are licensed and have I.D. and/or a microchip implant. Animal Control can be reached by telephone at (928) 772-5154. Additional information regarding licensing and leash laws may be found here. Fingerprinting is done on a first-come, first-serve basis in the lobby near the Records window on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. If you are unable to attend one of these sessions, you must call to schedule an appointment. Proper picture identification (driver's license, passport, military I.D., AZ Identification Card) is required and applicants must provide their own fingerprint card. Public fingerprinting is not available during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Patrol District
The Police Department’s structure and plan enhances patrol staffing, dispatching, and crime analysis. It is expected that additional districts will be created as Prescott Valley’s growth continues. Click here for a map showing district boundaries. Corporals competed in a rigorous promotion process prior to appointment and are the primary field training officers for the Department. Corporals are assigned to one or more of the geographical districts and act as liaison or contact person for citizens and businesses within their area. Corporals also gather data on crime trends and other information relevant to their district. They are specially trained in areas such as crime prevention, Block Watch programs, and problem-solving approaches to public safety issues. Citizens wishing to contact a Corporal may call (928)772-9261 anytime, or send them an email. The email addresses appear below. Cpl. Shawn Caswell scaswell@pvaz.net Cpl. Thomas Grant, Jr. tgrant@pvaz.net Cpl. Jason Kaufman jkaufman@pvaz.net Cpl. Michael Williams mwilliams@pvaz.net District 1 (Cpl. Kaufman) is the southwest district which encompasses both Frontage Road businesses and residential areas south of Spouse Drive and west of Robert Road. This area also includes Lynx Lake Estates, Granville West, Glassford Regional Marketplace and the Entertainment District. District 2 (Cpl. Jackson) is the southeast district which encompasses both Frontage Road businesses and residential areas south of Spouse Drive and east of Robert Road. This area includes the Prescott Valley Business Park. District 3 (Cpl. Williams) is the northwest district which encompasses areas north of Spouse Drive and west of Robert Road. This area includes Granville East. District 4 (Cpl. Caswell) is the northeast district which encompasses areas north of Spouse Drive and east of Robert Road. District 5 (Cpl. Caswell) is the district which encompasses business and residential areas south of Highway 69. This area includes Quailwood Meadows, Orchard Ranch, Villages at Lynx Creek, Prescott Country Club, Grapevine Industrial Park and Victorian Estates. District 6 (Cpl. Williams) is the district which encompasses business and residential areas north of Highway 89A. This area includes Viewpoint, Pronghorn Ranch, Mingus West and the Yavapai County Fairgrounds. K-9 Patrol Officers
Our three K-9 teams have proven and will continue to be invaluable assets to the Prescott Valley Police Department in fighting crime and making our community safer. Joey and Ike have performed numerous drug and suspect searches in and around Prescott Valley. At times, they are called upon by other agencies to assist in drug searches and suspect apprehensions. Drug detection searches by our K-9 teams have resulted in seizures of large quantities and varieties of drugs along with thousands of dollars in cash proceeds from drug sales. They are also responsible for numerous suspect apprehensions for crimes ranging from burglary to attempted homicide. It is also expected that Bojar's specialty will further enhance the safety of officers and community members alike. The Yavapai County Community Foundation continues its commitment to assist our K-9 program through grant funds that help us outfit our dogs, their handlers, and their specialized patrol vehicles. Officers Hines and McNally and their K-9 partners attend many hours of training to perfect their skills, and to maintain and enhance certifications of both K-9 partners. As always, the mission of the Prescott Valley Police Department and the K-9 Unit is to enhance public safety, reduce the incidents of crime as well as the fear of crime, and to improve the quality of life for the diverse community we serve.
Photo Radar A photo enforcement van has been in operation and deployed on both arterial and neighborhood streets within Prescott Valley Town limits. The company operating the photo radar van, Redflex, employs photo enforcement technicians. For questions about the Photo Radar van please contact the Prescott Valley Police Department, 772-9261. Photo
Radar Schedule Van 1 (Not yet available) These Schedules are subject to change.
How and How often is a fixed speed detection system calibrated and checked for accuracy? Detection system accuracy is established at the time of installation by comparing the speed indicated by the system with a calibrated detection device. The system is configured to an accuracy of +/- 1 MPH of the calibrated detection device reading. The term "calibration" is often used inappropriately in this situation. There are no adjustments made once the initial setup is accomplished, and the only way to change the way the system detects vehicle speed is by changing one of the two constants involved (the distance between the two sensors, and/or the way time is measured by the computer). A variety of devices are used to verify accuracy and include but are not limited to:
Redflex, the Prescott Valley photo radar vendor, conducts verification of system accuracy monthly for each speed certified location to ensure proper equipment orientation. The routine inspections referenced are also conducted when maintenance repairs are performed. In order to put a repaired system back in operation, a systems check is performed, and if the indications of improper speed exist, a speed verification check is performed as part of that inspection. These indications include but are not limited to:
Speed verification checks are performed as a result of the following activities:
How does the Town of Prescott Valley determine speed limits? The Town of Prescott Valley follows the guidelines set forth in the Manual on Unifrm Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the Arizona State Statutes to set speed limits in our town. The State Statutes allow local authorities to determine speed limits on streets under their jurisdiction based on an "engineering and traffic investigation." The MUTCD provides the criteria that is used for the engineering study. The MUTCD states that the speed limit should be within 5 mph of the 85th percentile speed of free flowing traffic (the speed at which 85% of the vehicles are traveling at or less than). It also allows you to consider road characteristics, roadside development, parking and pedestrian activity, and crash experience. We do most of our studies based on citizen requests, in areas where the roadside environment is changing due to development, or where we have experienced a higher number of accidents than usual. Do Photo Enforcement flash units cause collisions? No. The flash duration is less than 1/2000th of a second. That is shorter than lightning due to weather. The intensity of the flash is no brighter than any camera one might purchase for personal use. The height of the pole, shape of the reflector, and distance to motor vehicles and pedestrians also minimize the effect of the flash. Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc. has installed over five hundred photo enforcement units to date. In Scottsdale, Arizona alone, over 500,000 photo enforcement incidents have been photographed using flash from 1997 through January 2006. In all that time, there has not been a single reported incident of flash causing a collision. If anything, photo enforcement flash has a positive effect on driver behavior. It provides instant feedback to those who speed or run red lights, and most react by slowing down. Are license plate sprays and covers that are advertised and sold to prevent photography of plates by photo detection cameras, prohibited by law? Yes. Arizona law (ARS 28-2354) requires that " A person shall maintain each license plate so it is clearly legible." The sprays and covers themselves are not illegal. The act of illegible display of the plate is. Are the tickets electronically signed? Yes. All mailed complaints bear a digital signature, by a Prescott Valley Police Officer. Several attorneys have made the assertion that defendants can argue in court that the mailed tickets are not properly served by a human being and thus invalid. Is the mailing of tickets a legal and valid form of serving the complaint? Court rules require individuals to cooperate in saving unnecessary costs of service of a summons and traffic complaint. Most citizens accept this obligation and respond to photo enforcement traffic complaints they receive in the mail. If they fail to respond, and a registered process server is required to accomplish service, the court will charge the citizen those extra costs. The process service fee is $26. The reverse side of the traffic complaint provides that if an individual fails to appear as directed, a default judgment may be entered, a civil sanction may be imposed, and the person's driver license may be suspended. Are steps being taken to ensure that drivers know such action (i.e. suspension of license) is being carried out? The court notifies the defendant when a default judgment has been entered. The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) is also notified of the judgment and they may then take action upon the driver's license. MVD's general policy is to notify the individual by mail that their driver's license has been suspended due to court action. Does the law require notification of name and address changes? Yes. Arizona law (ARS 28-448) requires licensed drivers and registered owners of vehicles to notify MVD within ten days of name and address changes. A violation of this section is a civil traffic violation. Are points assessed against my driver's license for photo enforcement convictions? Yes. In accordance with Arizona Administrative Code R17-4-404, Driver Point System, points are assessed by MVD for each conviction reported to them by the Court. Each red light conviction is assigned two points, and each speed conviction is assigned three points. Can I avoid points being assessed against my driver's license for photo enforcement convictions by attending Defensive Driving Class? Yes. If you have not used the Defensive Driving Class (DDC) option in the most recent two years, you can avoid points being assessed against your license. This alternative is fully explained on the options page of each photo enforcement citation. What is included in a photo enforcement citation? Please click here for a breakdown of a photo enforcement citation.
Animal Control
You can obtain a Rabies vaccine by taking your dog to your pet's veterinarian. Petco also offers monthly vaccine clinics. A licensed veterinarian is present and will administer the vaccine. Dates and times vary, please contact Petco at 708-0212 for more information. Once your pet has been vaccinated against Rabies, ask the doctor performing the vaccine for a copy of the pet's Rabies Vaccine Certificate. This is the document you will need to obtain the license. Facilities that sell Prescott Valley licenses:
Please note that some clinics will only sell licenses to existing clients.
Information to note: If this is your pet's very first vaccine, the vaccine will expire one year after date of administration. Your pet's second vaccine and every vaccine thereafter are current for three years after date of administration, if you have not allowed the date of expiration to lapse. Your license year can only reflect the Rabies expiration. Pee Vee says thank you for licensing your pet today! For more information, please contact Animal Control at 772-5154.
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The
Administrative Services Section is under the purview of the Chief
of Police, Jim Maxson. The Administrative Services Section is comprised
of the Office of the Chief of Police the Administrative Services
Section and supervisors of multi-agency programs for the Northern
Arizona Regional Training Academy (NARTA) and Partners Against
Narcotics Trafficking (PANT). 
The
commanding officer of the Field Services Division is Commander
Bill Fessler. The Field Services Division is comprised of the Patrol
Section, Traffic Unit, Photo Enforcement/Special Events Unit, the
Community Resource Team, and the Special Response Team.
The
Traffic Unit consists of one Motor Sergeant, one
Motor Corporal, and two Motor Officers. Officers assigned
to the Traffic Unit are responsible for enforcing speed limits
and
other traffic violations, investigating traffic accidents, and
performing select traffic enforcement details such as commercial
vehicle inspections
and DUI saturation patrols. Our Traffic Unit officers are also
certified child seat safety technicians and can provide assistance
with the
installation of your child's car seat by appointment. Sgt. John
Woods supervises the Traffic Unit. If you have a traffic-related
question, wish to request traffic enforcement in your neighborhood,
or need assistance installing a child's car seat, Sgt. Woods
may
be contacted at (928) 772-5104 or 
The
commanding officer for the Support Services Division is Commander
Laura Molinaro. The Support Services Division is comprised of the
following sections and units: Criminal Investigations Section,
Records Section, School Resource Officer Unit, DARE Unit and Crime
Prevention Unit. 
The
Criminal Investigations Section (CIS) is comprised
of Detective
Sergeant Art Askew, five Detectives, one Investigative
Assistant, and two Evidence Technicians. The CIS is responsible
for the investigation of all major felony crimes to include crimes
committed against children, sex crimes, property crimes, and financial
crimes. The CIS also works very closely with investigators from
other jurisdictions around the state and with the Yavapai County
Attorney's Office.
In
an effort to enhance our community-based policing efforts, the Police
Department implemented a Master Patrol Officer program in February
2002. At that time, the Town of Prescott Valley was separated into
patrol districts. In December 2007, the rank of Master Patrol Officer
was changed to Corporal, and in the Spring of 2009, the Police Department
further refined its structure by adding the Community Resource Team
(CRT) that allows for rapid response and improved service. The CRT
is headed by Sergeant Kell Palguta and Corporal Pat Ruiz.
The
Prescott Valley Police K-9 Unit currently consists of three K-9
teams. Officer Hines works with his K-9 partner Joey,
Officer Dave McNally is partnered with K-9 Ike, and Officer Kevin
O'Hagan partners with our newest K-9, Bojar. The purchase
of Joey was made possible through generous grant funding from
the Yavapai County Community Foundation. Ike, also a Belgian
Malenois, joined the department in the Winter of 2008 as did Bojar. Joey
and Ike are dual-certified in drug detection and patrol functions,
while Bojar's certification will provide the added dimension of
explosives detection. 
How
to License your pet: Only dogs are required to be licensed
in the Town of Prescott Valley. A current Rabies vaccine
is needed to license your pet. Only a licensed veterinarian can
administer the vaccine.
