Updated Dec. 11, 2025, 10:28 AM:
The Globe Police Department has completed an almost half-decade journey of voluntary self-evaluation and discovery — one that has already changed the way the department operates, both internally and externally, and will continue to do so. It is now fully certified through the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, a step designed to increase transparency, improve professional standards and implement best practices.
Police Chief Dale Walters remembers the grim day he first walked into his office. The department was authorized for 19 sworn positions; only 15 were filled. Two employees were placed on administrative leave, and four others were placed under investigation. By the time he finished reviewing everything, the department was down to seven people.
The police station had a new report-writing system that was not being used, and officers hadn’t been trained on new equipment.
“There was no methodology. No structure,” Walters said. It was clear — not just to the chief, but also to community members like realtor Debbie Cox — that accountability had to become a priority.
Now, seven years after that first day, the department has rebuilt itself into a cohesive group of men and women who have taken ownership of the issues, made changes in policy and carry those changes into their daily work.
“We owe it to our community to provide the best training and the best practices to the people we serve,” Walters said. “We owe it to our officers. It’s not just about responding to 9-1-1 calls.”
Accreditation takes time, and in the Globe Police Department’s case, it took more than three-and-a-half years. Walters hails from the Chandler Police Department, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), a larger agency with plentiful resources. Believing that accreditation is just as important for small departments as large ones, the Arizona Chiefs of Police created an accreditation model attainable for agencies of any size.
Globe PD had to produce a total of 585 proofs of compliance because every policy and procedure needed to be rewritten. The department contracted with Edwards & Amato, P.C., for legal guidance throughout the process.
One of Walters’ first projects was auditing Property and Evidence. “That is a critical function of what we do,” he said. “I don’t know that it had been audited for years before I got here.”
Equipment issues surfaced as well.
“It wasn’t standardized,” Walters said. He described officers’ weapon systems, helmets and bullet-proof vests as “whimsical decisions made.”
Although the department lacked funding for extensive testing and evaluation (T&E) of needed equipment, Walters was able to use T&E conducted by the Chandler Police Department. The department also partnered with Enterprise for new vehicles and worked to improve the police facility itself. The chief’s biggest concern was creating a methodology built for longevity.
“This forces the department to follow best practices, to stay relevant,” he said.
He knew he wouldn’t be in the community — or the position — forever, but the need for transparency and accountability from the chief down through the ranks would always remain.
The project began about two years after he became chief, but it hit a setback that halted certification. A day and a memo later, however, the department was back on track, thanks to the efforts of the entire staff, especially two key members: Chad Drexler, who took over the IT portion of the project, and Lt. A.J. Castaneda.
Staff members had to review all policies, understand the reasons behind the changes, receive training and then carry those practices into the community. The department now plans to create an accreditation/training manager role to help maintain compliance. Walters will continue updating the community and seeking feedback through Town Hall and Town Council meetings.
Along the way, Walters learned how resilient his officers and staff are. They faced a mass shooting at Jammerz, two officer-involved shootings, COVID, the Telegraph Fire and subsequent flooding, and the catastrophic flooding this year.
“They have tremendous resiliency. We were always undermanned; even fully staffed, we were understaffed, but they always got it done,” he said. “Then they had a chief always asking them to read these policies.”
As policies were rewritten, some more than once as laws changed or best practices emerged, Walters implemented what he considered foundational to his philosophy: community engagement.
“When I came here, they weren’t doing it… at all,” he said. Now officers are expected — actually mandated — to engage with the public at all levels, not just on their worst days or during emergencies.
And they do. Officers participate in Halloween and the Light Parade, First Fridays, Easter egg hunts, Shop with a Hero, and Tip a Cop. The department placed a school resource officer DARE program.
“They are all in,” Walters said.
Another component of community engagement is providing customer service for those who need it most. When Walters first arrived, a rape victim chose not to undergo an examination because she didn’t want to travel to the Valley.
There was no family advocacy center at the time. Now there is.
The Globe Police Department partnered with Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center, which employs SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) who can provide compassionate care, collect medical and forensic evidence and offer support and referrals to survivors.
Accreditation requires the Police Department to check and balance itself, but Cox — an enthusiastic supporter of the project — believes accountability should go both ways. As a former member of Gila House who continues to monitor neighborhood concerns, she hears about police interactions weekly and believes the public plays a role in community safety.
“The community has to report appropriate things as well as start tracking what’s going on in its own neighborhoods,” she said. “You can’t keep your mouth shut. Get the information to them and let them deal with it appropriately.”
Call 9-1-1 for emergencies and (928) 425-5751, ext. 2, to reach Globe Police Department.
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