The Department is organized into four Divisions, each headed by a Commander who reports to the Chief.
Officers generally work in a beat for at least one year.
A Sergeant assigned to each beat coordinates the work of the officers on the Beat team. History George Compton was elected Tempe's first Town Marshall in January 1895. Tempe had a population of 900 people, within an area of less than two square miles. In 1914, the City Council instructed the Mayor to buy a motorcycle for the Marshall to use in capturing violators of the speed ordinance. In 1920, a night officer was added to the force.