When Frank Milstead became Mesa's police chief, he pledged not to oversee a massive shake-up to a police force that was already strained by three years of wrenching change.
Yet Milstead has ordered many small changes that, when put together, are making some significant differences in how the city fights crime.
Many of the changes were triggered by forces beyond his control.
He had to work with a $6.4 million budget cut that resulted in the department having 105 fewer officers than a year ago. A smaller civilian support staff. A sharp limit on how many hours the police helicopter can be airborne. Fewer cars. And virtually no money for overtime.
"You often hear people talk about doing more with less," Milstead said. "Well, eventually you do less with less. If you can just do the same with less, that's good. But eventually you do less with less."
Milstead said the changes he has initiated have focused largely on how the department can reduce crime with shrinking resources. But some go beyond the budget issues.
So far, he's broadened the SWAT team duties so its officers are on the street to fight crime in problematic areas.
Milstead also started a summertime crime suppression squad, putting about 20 officers on special assignments to look for parties, noise complaints and other problems that can result in a 5-10 percent boost in crime this time of year. So far, the effort cut crime about 5 percent.
Also, the gang unit is trying to break up entire organizations by developing cases against the entire operation instead of arresting individuals on lesser charges.
And Milstead freed up the time of the internal affairs unit and many supervisors by dropping a system that required any complaint about an officer - no matter how small - to result in an internal affairs investigation.
That is one of several ways he's tried to have management work more closely with officers since taking control four months ago.
"Police work is supposed to be fun. Police work is supposed to be rewarding and some of the things that had been put in place under the previous regime were very stifling to the officers," Milstead said. "They felt that they weren't trusted, that there had to be all these different levels of review. My opinion is I have to be able to trust not only the line-level sergeants and lieutenants, but the commanders and assistant chiefs as well so I've changed some of those things around to give people a little more trust."
Milstead explained his new approaches last week in a meeting with the Tribune's editorial board. His style is sharply different than predecessor George Gascón, who brought a big-city approach to Mesa when he arrived from the Los Angeles Police Department. Gascón left in June after overseeing a sharp drop in crime.
Gascón ordered many changes, including the use of COMPSTAT, a computerized process of constantly analyzing crime data to pinpoint trends and problem areas.
Gascón's orders were consistent, Milstead said, but he knew the police force needed stability. He abolished a Gascón practice of launching an internal affairs investigation over any complaint made about an officer, including when a citizen simply had a question about procedure and didn't want to file a formal complaint. The number of internal investigations skyrocketed and that created a great amount of stress, even though the officers were cleared nearly all the time. Milstead said the practice could work against officers who were trying to be more active.
"The more work you do, the more people you meet through the day, so the more likely you're going to find somebody who takes umbrage with your way of doing things," he said.
The change has been a boost to officers, said Bryan Soller, president of the Mesa Fraternal Order of Police. Soller said he was impressed that Milstead began his job already highly knowledgeable of how the force operates and that his changes have focused on stabilizing the police force.
"When you talk to him, you just feel like he's your best friend," Soller said. "You get a real trust out of him. If he says something, it will get done."
Milstead also is different from Gascón in his relationship with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The Mesa chief publically and sharply criticized Arpaio for his crime suppression sweeps in Mesa, saying the department didn't have enough notice. Milstead said he's asked Arpaio for notice, adding he's worked with the sheriff frequently in his years with Phoenix police.
Milstead's approach to discussing illegal immigration is also a sharp contrast to Gascon. Even after Gascon left for San Francisco, he blasted Arizona's SB 1070.
Milstead has raised practical concerns that it will cost the department more money and could bog down a strained force, but he hasn't criticized the measure.
"We try to stay out of that debate," Milstead said. "It doesn't really matter what any of us think personally. It's how do we get the enforcement end of this taken care of. It's nothing we ask for. It's just what we get."
Reality posted at 5:26 pm on Sun, Jul 18, 2010.
I find it ironic that Chief Milstead appears to be unaware of the past history of sexual misconduct previously exhibited by various members of the Mesa Police Department.
If he was I find it saddening that he apparently fails to see the connection between a Department that takes Citizen Complaints seriously and the delievery of professional police service.
Why is that? I hope it is not a philosophy handed down by his father, Ralph Milstead, who was frequently the subject of such complaints, including having an alledged affair with one of the rookies in the Phoenix Regional Police Academy while Ralph was the head of DPS.
Very interesting. Gascón may have been tough but he cleaned up Mesa PD and was well on the way toward a new professional culture.
If Milstead says he works well with Arpaio then that says a lot about who and what he is as he is in the minority of Valley Police Chiefs and agencies.
Where you cannot cut in hard economic times is in honesty and integrity with regard to the delivery of police service and the necessary checks and balances with regard to Officer integrity.
snipes posted at 8:04 am on Mon, Jul 19, 2010.
Seldom has a Mesa police chief demonstrated such ineptitude so early in his tenure.
forkedlift1 posted at 10:43 am on Mon, Jul 19, 2010.
I too found some of Chief Milstead's statements and approach disturbing.
It could be that Milstead, to stay out of a lunatic's cross-hairs, is just humoring mad-man Arpaio. Even so, to even suggest that Arpaio's misuse of power with his infamous "sweeps" are okay in our city as long as Arpaio gives advance notice is reprehensible from any police chief.
Arpaio's countless abuses of law enforcement power have been under investigation by the FBI since late 2008, still being examined by a federal grand jury which last met just two weeks ago.
Arpaio and five others also have $46 million in claims hanging over their personal heads stemming from his vindictive abuse of power to viciously and monetarily damage the reputations of others he considers his "enemies." (Arpaio and the five were notified on July 8 of the specified exclusionary provisions of the Trust from which claims are normally paid.)
If Gascon's use of the department's Internal Affairs division was viewed as an extreme policy, Milstead appears to be extreme in the opposite direction. From too much to too little, if at all.
SB 1070 has tagged Arizona, nationally and internationally, as the "hate state." I hope Mesa, the breeding ground of Russell Pearce, will not validate that reputation long after the boycotts have ceased and 1070 is a thing of the past.
Hotcopone posted at 12:18 pm on Mon, Jul 19, 2010.
Forkedlift1:
Gascon was definitely one of the worst Chiefs Mesa has ever had. He was a sanctuary City Chief. He is one of the main problems Mesa is what it is now with all the illegals.
Now you think this guy is maybe too lenient. It's only been 4 months and you need to give him a chance just like they gave Gascon 3 years to ruin the dept and the city.
You sound like your against SB1070? What would that tell everyone on here about you?
forkedlift1 posted at 2:50 pm on Mon, Jul 19, 2010.
Hotcopone,
I took your remarks as genuine opinions until your last unreal remark, ("You sound like your against SB1070? What would that tell everyone on here about you?")
I have been studying SB 1070 for over three months, as well as the ramifications of such, and my views of same are consistent with the facts presented in the 25-page complaint recently filed in federal court, United States of America v. the State of Arizona, on July 6, 2010.
I urge you to acquaint yourself with the full text of Arizona's newly enacted immigration law, the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the doctrine of pre-emption, and that 25-page complaint filed by the feds which is available online. It will become abundantly clear to you that Arizona has passed a law that does not "mirror" but is in conflict with federal immigration law and in conflict with acts of Congress.
The doctrine of pre-emption holds that certain matters are of such a national, as opposed to local, character that federal laws pre-empt or take precedence over state laws. As such, a state may not pass a law inconsistent with the federal law.
Read that 25-page complaint (it's an easy read) and educate yourself.
hillstreet posted at 6:49 pm on Mon, Jul 19, 2010.
Hotcopone- I am a 25 year police veteran and am against SB1070...what does that say about me?
Hotcopone posted at 10:12 pm on Mon, Jul 19, 2010.
I haven't read the entire bill or the recent filings. It doesn't really matter to me but the content of the bill.
I am a police officer of 20 years, what does that say about me since I'm for it??
Butters posted at 9:19 am on Tue, Jul 20, 2010.
Hillstreet, you're a racist, a bigot and a loner. I hope you're about the retire so your position can be replaced by someone who will professionally do the job you aren't doing.
samkat posted at 12:15 pm on Tue, Jul 20, 2010.
fork: You should be proud of your hero. After all, he is continuing Gascan's sanctuary city policy. Now, how can he pursue a gang crack down without racially profiling. this presents an interesting dilemma doesn't it?
hillstreet: The best I can say for you is that you probably do not do a heck of a lot besides cruise the streets and make regular stops at the donut shops. I have no doubt that somewhere in your career, you racially profiled. It is almost impossible to not do it at some point. Maybe you should retire so you will not have to face the possibility of making an arrest.
Sgt Friday posted at 9:28 am on Wed, Jul 21, 2010.
Hillstreet, one of the reasons IA was created was because of people like you. If the new law is upheld in court then you'll either enforce it as per your oath, or you'll be retiring sooner rather than later taking your racist and very bad attitude with you.
Sgt Friday posted at 9:29 am on Wed, Jul 21, 2010.
Forklift, what qualifies you as an expert on police matters? Please list your training and credentials.