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**U.S. Department of Justice**        Office of Community Oriented Policing Services            145 N Street, N.E.       Washington, DC 20530      www.cops.usdoj.gov×         Menu         - Home
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**The Goodyear Police Department:“The Better the Officer, theBetter the Department”**
  May 2018 | Volume 11 | Issue 5

*The COPS Office is pleased to feature the Goodyear (AZ) Police Department as the May 2018 winner of the Community Policing in Action Photo Contest. The winning photo features Officer Robert McCabe engaging in a meaningful conversation with a citizen during a Coffee with a Cop event in August 2017.*

When Sergeant Jamie Benker talks about the Goodyear  Police Department, there is no doubt that he loves what he does. As the  lead sergeant for the Community  Service Unit, Benker is responsible for planning and executing the  department’s numerous community outreach efforts, as part of its larger  mission, which is to “contribute to the quality of life through diligent  patrol, community oriented policing and enforcement of law to maintain the  peace and protect the rights of those we serve1.”

          Just 30 miles west of Phoenix, Goodyear is a growing suburb  that was Forbes Magazine’s fourth fastest growing suburban city under 100,000  in the nation between 2000 and 20062.  Companies including Amazon, Macy’s-Bloomingdale’s, Cancer Treatment Centers of  America, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and REI have opened locations in Goodyear, making  it an attractive place for jobseekers3.  The population of approximately 78,000 residents keeps growing as the city  continues its efforts to attract more businesses and present itself as a great  place to work *and live.*

          The city’s most recent Citizen Satisfaction Survey revealed  that 97% of residents feel safe in their neighborhood4, a nod  to Goodyear Police Chief Jerry Geier and the approximately 115 officers that  work hard to maintain public safety. “Our chief has a good philosophy,” said  Benker. “He wants us to be the premier law enforcement agency in the West  Valley.”

Geier has served as the department’s police chief since 2012 and,  according to Benker, brings “a ton of bigger department experience” to  Goodyear. “We have an ongoing joke here – never play chess with the chief –  because he’s always four steps ahead of us,” laughed Benker.

Benker attributes the department’s positive community relationships to  Geier’s proactive leadership. “He’s very dynamic. He adapts to everything. We  love it as a department because we’re growing.”

As the city grows and new officers join the department, the community  policing philosophy remains a beacon for officers like Benker. The Community  Service Unit is responsible for encouraging greater participation in community  policing and problem-solving projects. To do that, the Unit engages in a number  of different programs and events, such as Neighborhood Block Watch, monthly homeowners’  association meetings, Special Olympics, Citizens Academy, Teen Academy, the  Explorers Program, and many others. The Unit encourages officers to incorporate  community policing in their day-to-day activities. “We pride ourselves on high  visibility. We have a take home car program, so we’re allowed to take our cars  home and seeing a car parked in the neighborhood helps deter people from doing  something they shouldn’t,” Benker shared.

The winning photo features another popular event among Goodyear residents  – Coffee with a Cop – a  national movement that encourages dialogue between community and police. “It  allows people to come in and talk to us freely,” Benker described. “People  don’t see the police on their birthday or Christmas. They see us on their worst  day ever. If we invite them to coffee and just hang out, it allows them to talk  to us and not worry about what the outcome of the conversation will be.”

Benker, who is originally from Massachusetts and has eleven years of law  enforcement experience, says Goodyear’s community policing philosophy combined  with great leadership is what keeps him motivated. “Leadership is a huge  component of this police department. If Chief starts to see some leadership in  people, he allows for cross training. The better the officer, the better the  department.”

          The COPS Office congratulates the Goodyear Police Department  for being one of the 12 winners of  the COPS Office 2018 Community Policing in Action Photo Contest and for its  commitment to community policing.

*Written with  contributions from Goodyear Police Department Community Policing Unit Sergeant  Jamie Benker. Photo courtesy of Geoff Kinnerk, City of Goodyear.*****

          Najla Haywood          Managing Editor          COPS Office

References:			     1. “2016 Annual Report,” City of Goodyear Police, accessed April 12, 2018, http://www.goodyearaz.gov/home/showdocument?id=17601. 	        
2. “America’s  Fastest-Growing Suburbs,” Forbes, July 16, 2007, https://www.forbes.com/2007/07/16/suburbs-growth-housing-forbeslife-cx_mw_0716realestate.html#4f58edf9338f.

3. “Major  Employers,” City of Goodyear Arizona Economic Development, accessed April 12,  2018, http://www.developgoodyearaz.com/why-goodyear/major-employers.

4. “Living  in Goodyear,” City of Goodyear Arizona Economic Development, accessed April 12,  2018, http://www.developgoodyearaz.com/why-goodyear/live-in-goodyear.

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