Command Staff

Chief Dan Butler

Police Chief Dan Butler is an accomplished law enforcement leader who began his career of distinguished service with the Mesa Police Department in 2000. He has served in most areas of the department and in every rank leading up to his most recent appointment as chief of police.

As executive assistant chief, Dan managed the daily operations of nearly 1,500 sworn and professional staff members, overseeing a wide range of divisions integral to the safety and well-being of the Mesa community.

Throughout his career, Dan has demonstrated exceptional leadership, notably heading the Patrol Operations Bureau, the department's largest, where he was responsible for overseeing the Central, Fiesta, Red Mountain, and Superstition Patrol Divisions, as well as Mesa Gateway Airport operations. As assistant chief, he expanded his leadership role to encompass divisions such as Human Resources, Wellness, Financial Services, Communications, Basic and Advanced Training, and more, ensuring the operational excellence and well-being of the department and its officers.

Dan has also played a key role in managing over $100 million in three major capital improvement projects, enhancing the department’s infrastructure and public safety capabilities. His strategic leadership ensured these initiatives were completed on time, within budget, and with lasting value for the community.

A highly educated professional, Dan holds a Master of Administration degree from Northern Arizona University, with a focus on leadership. In addition, he has completed several prestigious law enforcement leadership programs, including the FBI’s National Executive Institute (NEI), the Major Cities Chiefs Association’s Police Executive Leadership Institute (PELI), the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), and Northwestern University’s School of Command and Management.

Chief Butler currently serves as the Western Region Representative on the Board of the Major Cities Chief’s Association (MCCA), a professional organization that represents the largest cities in the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, he is a committee member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, representing law enforcement on the national stage.

With his extensive experience, dedication to operational excellence, and commitment to community safety, Chief Butler is poised to continue driving positive change and reinforcing the Mesa Police Department's mission of policing excellence.

PoliceChief@mesaaz.gov

Assistant Chief Gina Nesbit

Assistant Chief Jeff Cutler

Assistant Chief Jeff Cutler has been with the Mesa Police Department since 1997 and currently serves as the assistant chief of the Investigations Bureau. This bureau includes the following divisions: Special Operations, Criminal Investigations, and Professional Standards. Prior to commanding Investigations, he oversaw the Patrol Operations Bureau. Patrol Operations include uniformed officers, detectives, and professional staff. The Patrol Operations Bureau covers the entire 138 square miles of the City of Mesa, divided between the Central, Fiesta, Red Mountain, Superstition, and Northeast Patrol Divisions, as well as the Mesa Gateway Airport.

Throughout his career, Assistant Chief Cutler has held various positions, including patrol officer, field training officer, bike officer, and gang detective. As a sergeant he worked in patrol and led the Gang Investigations squad within the Special Operations Division. In 2012, he took management responsibility for the East Valley Gang & Criminal Information Fusion Center, a multi-jurisdictional intelligence center that enhances inter-agency communication regarding crime trends. Upon promotion to lieutenant, he led the department's Policy and Planning Unit and served as the operations lieutenant for the Fiesta Division. After being promoted to commander in 2018, he held several key roles, including executive commander in the Office of the Chief of Police, Superstition Patrol Division commander, Human Resources commander, and executive commander for the Patrol Operations Bureau.

Assistant Chief Cutler's commitment to continuous learning and professional development is evident in his educational background. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Arizona State University and a master's degree in organizational management and leadership from the University of Phoenix. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police. AC Cutler is an active member of the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. His academic achievements are complemented by practical experience, as he has held leadership positions at Chase Manhattan Bank and Arizona State University before joining the police force.

Assistant Chief Tim Walker

Assistant Chief Tim Walker has served with the Mesa Police Department since 1998. Currently, he is assigned to lead the Patrol Operations Bureau, the largest unit in the department. The Patrol Operations Bureau is comprised of over 600 personnel, including uniformed officers, detectives, and professional staff. The Patrol Operations Bureau covers the entire 138 square miles of the City of Mesa, divided between the Central, Fiesta, Red Mountain, Northeast, and Superstition Patrol Divisions, as well as the Mesa Gateway Airport.

Professionally, Assistant Chief Tim Walker graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and Northern Arizona University with a Master of Administration, Leadership Emphasis. Chief Walker graduated from the FBI National Academy Session 284, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC), and the DC Police Leadership Academy. Chief Walker is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Patrol & Tactical Operations Committee. He is also a member of the Ross Farnsworth East Valley YMCA Advisory Board.

Assistant Chief Aaron Spicer

Assistant Chief Aaron Spicer has served with the Mesa Police Department since 2001. Before joining Mesa PD, he spent 3 years serving as a police officer and deputy sheriff in Virginia. Currently he oversees the Operations Support Bureau, which includes Communications, Holding, Supply/Evidence, Municipal Security, Traffic, Real Time Crime Center, Aviation, Fusion, SRO, Special Events, Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, and Park Rangers.

Throughout his career, Assistant Chief Spicer has held various roles within the department, including assignments in Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Street Crimes/Community Interaction, Neighborhood Enhancement Team, Vehicular Crimes/Traffic, Metro Programs (photo safety & towing), Special Events, Operations, Training, Internal Affairs, and as the Administrative Bureau lieutenant.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Radford University and his master’s degree from Northern Arizona University.

Additionally, Assistant Chief Spicer is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC), the Northwestern Executive Management Program (EMP), the PERF Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), and the Arizona Leadership Program. His professional affiliations include the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Executive Research Forum, the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, the Arizona Homicide Investigators Association, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI LEEDA), and the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners.

Assistant Chief Dominique Sterlin

Assistant Chief Dominique Sterlin began his law enforcement career in 2000 working for the Milford, New Hampshire Police Department. He left the Milford PD in 2006 and started with the Mesa Police Department. He has held command assignments in Human Resources, lieutenant over Operations, Human Trafficking, Missing Persons, Digital Forensics, and the mental health support team. He was a sergeant in various assignments and worked as a patrol officer in all four districts within the City of Mesa.

Assistant Chief Sterlin is currently assigned to the Professional Services Bureau. He oversees a diverse area including the PDIT Division, the Criminal Justice Information Division, the Training Division/Reserve Officer Program, and the Human Resource Division that includes Recruiting/Hiring, Off-Duty, Peer Support and Wellness.

Assistant Chief Sterlin currently holds a Master of Science (M.S.) Criminal Justice with Concentration on Homeland Security 5/2018-Southern New Hampshire University, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Sociology with Minor in Foreign Language 5/1994 (Magna Cum Laude) University of Hartford, Connecticut.

Assistant Chief Sterlin has successfully attended and graduated from the Senior Management Institute for Police, Session #85, Boston, Massachusetts, 2022, the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command, Class #510, Scottsdale, Arizona, 2021, and the Hispanic Leadership Institute Program, Mesa, Arizona, 2019.

When he is not working, Assistant Chief Sterlin enjoys traveling with his wife and two children ages six and nine, watching sports, and playing with their four dogs!

Deputy Director Patrick Phelps

Patrick Phelps is the deputy director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives for the police department. This office actively steers our strategic plan, enhances community engagement, oversees transformative capital improvement projects, and champions data-driven policing initiatives. Our commitment to community involvement and informed decision-making is key to achieving the department’s mission, fostering collaboration and success in our community.

Mr. Phelps has been with the Mesa Police Department since 2014. He began with the police department as the police information technology administrator in 2014, before being promoted to the technical services division manager in 2019. In 2021, Mr. Phelps was promoted to deputy director, overseeing various divisions, including Information Technology and Planning and Research. Before joining the Mesa Police Department, Mr. Phelps spent 20 years with the Syracuse Police Department in Syracuse, NY, retiring as a sergeant in the Division of Technology and Program Management.

He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He has a master’s degree from Syracuse University and a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University.

Commander J.R. Gomez

Commander J.R. Gomez has served the Mesa Police Department since 1999. He is currently assigned as the Commander of the Red Mountain Patrol Operations Division, located in the middle portion of Mesa. The Red Mountain Patrol Division is responsible for the response and investigation of all civil and criminal matters within the Division boundaries, approximately 22 square miles, and home to more than 125,000 Mesa residents. Red Mountain includes 130 Mesa PD personnel, including professional staff, patrol staff, and investigations units.

Commander Gomez has served numerous areas of the Department, including managing major city law enforcement operations at various levels in patrol, investigative, tactical, and administrative assignments. These assignments include Patrol, Field Training Officer (FTO), Street Crimes Unit, Organized Crime, Internal Affairs, Homicide, Special Operations to include the Violent Offender Unit, Bureau Staff Lieutenant, and Advanced Training.

Commander Gomez holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Career and Technical Education from Northern Arizona University and is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police and the DC Police Leadership Academy.

Commander Chris Rash

Commander Chris Rash has served with the Mesa Police Department since 1994. He is currently assigned as the commander of the Northeast Patrol Operations Division. This is the new public safety facility located near Power and Brown Roads, which opened in August of 2025. This station houses both police and fire department personnel.

Commander Rash has served in numerous areas of the department and in every rank leading up to commander. These assignments include Patrol, Field Training Officer, Sex Offender Notification Unit, Special Victim’s Unit, Criminal Investigations Unit, Patrol Operations, and Internal Affairs. Upon promotion to commander, he led the Metro Resources Division made up of the following units: Aviation Unit, East Valley Fusion Center, Special Events & Emergency Management Unit, Intelligence & Counterterrorism Unit, Municipal Security Unit, School Resource Unit, Traffic Unit, and led an internal team that researched, developed and opened the Mesa Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center. Commander Rash has also served as the Superstition Patrol Division commander.

Commander Rash holds a Master of Administration degree from Northern Arizona University with an emphasis on leadership and a Bachelor of Science degree in justice studies from Arizona State University. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police. Commander Rash is a Mesa native.

Commander James McCormick

Commander James McCormick has served with the Mesa Police Department for over 30 years. As a commander he was previously assigned to the Patrol Division, the Special Operations Division, and is currently assigned to Internal Affairs, and the Policy, Accreditation & Compliance Sections.

Commander McCormick has served in numerous areas of the department and in every rank leading up to commander. These assignments include Patrol, Field Training Officer (FTO), Bicycle Unit, Special Investigations Division, ATF Task Force, Criminal Investigations Division, Civilian Investigation Specialist Unit, Street Crimes Unit, Internal Affairs, Basic Training Academy, Advanced Training, and SWAT.

Commander McCormick is a graduate of Western New Mexico University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. James is actively involved in several community sports and fitness programs.

Commander Stephanie Derivan

Commander Stephanie Derivan has proudly served with the Mesa Police Department since 1997 working a broad range of assignments. She currently leads the Metro Resources Division which include the following areas: Aviation, Traffic and Photo Safety/Towing, Special Events, Emergency Management, Intel & Counterterrorism, Fusion Center, Real-Time Crime Center, School Resource Officers and Municipal Security. The Metro Resources Division is staffed with 73 sworn members and 32 professional staff members.

Commander Derivan’s assignments have included Patrol, Community Action Team, Hiring, Robbery, Domestic Violence, Civilian Investigator Specialist Program, Victim Services, Computer Forensics, Sex Offender Notification, and Traffic/Photo Safety & Towing.

Commander Derivan played college basketball starting at Mesa Community College and went on to play at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in communications. While working with the Mesa Police Department, she continued her education at Northern Arizona University earning a master’s degree in educational leadership. Commander Derivan enjoys volunteering with Special Olympics.

Commander Diana Williams

Diana Tapia Williams is a Commander with the Mesa Police Department where she has served since 2003. During her tenure, Commander Williams has worked assignments in Patrol, Training, Media Relations Office, Organized Crime Unit, Personal Crimes Detective, Chief’s Office, Operations Lieutenant, and Human Resources. She is currently the Commander of the Superstition Patrol District.

Commander Williams is committed to supporting the next generation of law enforcement professionals through instruction, training, mentorship, and coaching. She is a facilitator for the What You Do Matters Institute. She completed the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) Session #82, DC Police Leadership Academy (DCPLA) Cohort #3, and the FBI/LEEDA Leadership Trilogy.

Commander Williams is dedicated to serving the community by chairing the department’s Hispanic Community Forum group, volunteers at her local church, and is a current Executive Board Member of the Mesa Association of Hispanic Citizens (MAHC).

Commander Williams was born and raised Tucson, Arizona, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Criminal Justice from the University of Arizona. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix in Administration of Justice and Security.

Commander Jason Redwing

Commander Jason Redwing began his distinguished service to the Mesa Police Department and the citizens of Mesa in 1999. He currently serves as the Commander of the Human Resources Division where he oversees Hiring, Employee Wellness, Peer Support, and Off-Duty Employment. Commander Redwing has served in a variety of assignments throughout the Mesa Police Department including Superstition Patrol District Commander, Executive Lieutenant to the Chief’s Office, Homicide Lieutenant, Organized Crime/Narcotics Sergeant, Internal Affairs Sergeant, as well as a detective in the Organized Crime/Narcotics Unit and Street Crimes Unit. During his time in patrol, Commander Redwing served as a patrol lieutenant, patrol sergeant, and as an officer was Gang Liaison Officer and a certified Spanish Interpreter.

Commander Redwing holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Arizona State University in Justice Studies, with a minor in Political Science and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University.

Commander Redwing is a 26-year resident of Mesa and has committed much of his free time to coaching with various youth sports organizations in the community.

Commander Jason Reno

Commander Jason Reno is a dedicated and accomplished law enforcement professional who began serving the City of Mesa, Arizona in 2000. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic planning, and a commitment to public safety. He is currently assigned to the Special Operations Division, which includes the Gang Unit, Mobile Field Force, SWAT, Organized Crime Section, K9, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EOD), Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit (HEaT), Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU), Major Crimes Unit-ATF Violent Crimes Task Force and the Violent Offender Unit-US Marshal’s Task Force.

Jason brings extensive expertise in specialized operations, crisis management, and community engagement. Prior to his current role, Jason served various assignments in every rank in the Mesa Police Department. Patrol officer, field training officer, school resource officer, Gang Unit detective, patrol sergeant, Gang Unit sergeant, Career Criminal Squad sergeant, Major Crimes Unit/ATF Violent Crimes Task Force sergeant, administrative sergeant for the chief of police, Public Information Office sergeant, patrol lieutenant, Gang Unit lieutenant, tactical lieutenant, United States Marshal’s Violent Offender Unit Task Force lieutenant, Training Unit lieutenant and PEER/Wellness lieutenant and commander over the Fiesta Patrol District.

Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in public safety and emergency management from Grand Canyon University. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police, and Arizona Post Executive Leadership Program. He is a member of the Police Executive Research Forum, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Tactical Officers Association.

Commander Jason Troth

Commander Jason Troth has been with the Mesa Police Department since 2000 and currently leads the Fiesta Patrol Division, overseeing a team of 133 sworn officers and 17 professional staff dedicated to serving over 94,000 residents within a 14-square-mile area. He offers extensive experience and proven leadership built over a career that includes assignments as a Field Training Officer, Street Crimes Detective, Narcotics Detective, and Organized Crime Detective. He has also served as a Hazardous Bomb Technician and Peer Team Leader, demonstrating both technical proficiency and a commitment to officer wellness.

In leadership roles, Commander Troth has supervised specialized investigative units such as Digital Forensics and Internet Crimes Against Children, Special Victim’s Unit, and Human Exploitation and Trafficking. He also served as the Chief’s Adjutant, providing support on department-wide strategic initiatives. His tactical command experience includes serving as Gang Lieutenant, SWAT Executive Officer, and SWAT Commander.

Commander Troth holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, graduating Summa Cum Laude from Wilkes University, and a Master of Science in Leadership with an Emphasis in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police (Session 87) and the FBI National Academy (Session 292). Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his operational excellence, strategic leadership, and dedication to public safety.

Commander David Stiers

Commander David Stiers began his law enforcement career in 2005 and has built a diverse and progressive record of service marked by leadership, operational expertise, and community focus. He has served in a wide range of assignments, including Patrol Officer and Terrorist Liaison Officer while assigned to patrol, where he developed strong foundations in public safety and threat awareness. His investigative experience includes service as a Special Victims Unit (SVU) Detective, followed by supervisory and command-level roles as Patrol Sergeant, District Coordinator, and Civil Unrest Response Team Lead, where he was responsible for coordinating personnel, resources, and strategic responses during complex and high-risk incidents.

Commander Stiers has also held several key administrative and executive leadership positions that reflect his broad understanding of organizational management and personnel development. As Human Resources Lieutenant, he oversaw critical functions including hiring, peer support and wellness programs, and off-duty employment, ensuring both operational readiness and officer well-being. He later served as Communications Lieutenant, managing emergency communications operations and strengthening coordination between dispatch, field personnel, and command staff. Across these roles, he has demonstrated a commitment to accountability, effective leadership, and continuous improvement within the organization.

Commander Stiers holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master’s degree in Leadership and Entrepreneurship from Benedictine University. His professional education includes graduation from the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command (Class 510) and completion of the FBI–LEEDA Leadership Trilogy. These academic and professional achievements complement his practical experience and reflect his dedication to principled leadership, strategic thinking, and modern policing practices.

Commander Carlos Santana

Commander Carlos Santana is a Mesa native who has proudly served the City of Mesa since 2012 currently assigned to the Central Patrol Division with a personal mission statement of “Exist to Assist”.

Commander Santana has served in both investigative and supervisory capacities within the Street Crimes Unit, first as a Detective and later as a Sergeant, where he focused on proactive crime suppression and Division driven investigations. He later served as a Lieutenant assigned to the Basic Training Academy, overseeing the training, development, and mentorship of new officers entering the profession.

His operational leadership experience includes serving as a Lieutenant in the Gang Unit and as a task force officer with the FBI Central Arizona Safe Trails Task Force, where he worked collaboratively with federal and regional partners to address gang-related violence and major criminal activity. He has also served as a Mobile Field Force Commander, leading large-scale crowd management/civil unrest and critical incident responses.

Commander Santana has also served as the SWAT Team Executive Officer and Tactical Team Commander leading the SWAT team, K9 Unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD/Bomb Squad), and Hostage Negotiator Team. These assignments required decisive decision making, advanced operational planning, and close coordination across specialized units during high-risk incidents.

Commander Santana holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice & Criminology from Arizona State University. He is a graduate of the Arizona POST Executive Leadership Program, the Senior Management Institute of Police (SMIP) Session 91, the Valle del Sol Hispanic Leadership Institute, and the Mesa Chamber of Commerce Mesa Leadership & Development Program and a member of the Police Executive Research Forum, International Association of Chiefs of Police and National Tactical Officers Association.

Commander Kurt Scanio

Commander Kurt Scanio began his law enforcement career in 2004 after working in the private sector for 8 years. He is currently the Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division and Mesa Family Advocacy Center. Commander Scanio started as a patrol officer and later became a Domestic Violence Detective. Other leadership roles include Patrol Sergeant, Street Crime Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, Operations Lieutenant, Internal Affairs, and the Advance Training Lieutenant.

Commander Scanio holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Vermont and a Masters Degree in Leadership/Public Administration from Northern Arizona University.  Commander Scanio has also attended the Drucker School of Management, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command (Class 510), and FBI-Leeda.

Outside of work Commander Scanio enjoys traveling, cooking, and down time with his family. 

Fiscal Manager Krisa York

Krisa York is the Mesa Police Department’s Fiscal Manager. She has been with the Police Department since 1999 and has served as the Fiscal Manager since 2012. She joined the department as the Economic Crime Investigator where she spent over thirteen years providing technical financially related investigative support to various units within the Police Department and to outside agencies. Prior to joining the Mesa Police Department, Krisa spent twelve years in Public Accounting specializing in litigation support, and governmental, and not for profit audits.

In her role as Fiscal Manager, Krisa supervises a staff of 13. The Mesa Police Department’s Fiscal unit is tasked primarily with preparing and overseeing a budget of $342M, the successful coordination and processing of all department purchases, the department’s fleet, oversight and monitoring of over 60 grants and task forces annually, and the monitoring of the anti-racketeering fund. The Financial Services Division additionally handles the Police Department’s Employee Services functions including Transitional Duty and Human Resource Management.

Krisa is an Arizona native and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Arizona. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified in Financial Forensics. In 2022, Krisa attended the Executive Leadership Institute at Eli Drucker.

Criminal Justice Information Division (CJID) Manager Elizabeth Wiltrout

Elizabeth Wiltrout began her career with the City of Mesa Police Department in 2007 and currently serves as the Criminal Justice Information Division (CJID) Manager. She oversees the division responsible for critical, high-liability information management and compliance functions that support police operations, legal processes, and public transparency.

The CJID includes the Operations Unit, which manages 24/7 NCIC/ACIC data entries and confirmations for Mesa and the Town of Queen Creek; the Uniform Crime Reporting (NIBRS) Unit, ensuring FBI compliance and accuracy in crime data; the Data Integrity Unit, maintaining warrants, criminal histories, and expungements; the Public Records and Digital Media Dissemination Units, which handle complex reviews and redactions of reports, audio, and video; the Civilian Teleserve Section, responsible for helping community members navigate services and address non-emergency concerns; and the Risk Management Section, which helps coordinates litigation, discovery, and liability mitigation.

Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles in Forensics, Risk Management, Executive Administration, and Criminal Justice Information. Under her direction, the division has modernized technology systems, streamlined public records processes, implemented citywide solutions, secured additional staffing resources, and advanced pay equity and training initiatives for professional staff.

She holds a Master of Public Administration from Grand Canyon University with an emphasis in government and policy, a bachelor’s degree in justice studies from Arizona State University and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. She serves as Chair of the VersaWest User Group Board and is a member of SHRM, IACP, NAPSPS, and AZ LERMA.

Her leadership emphasizes innovation, accountability, and collaboration—ensuring that the systems and staff under CJID’s direction continue to strengthen operational excellence, compliance, and public trust.

PDIT Division Manager Wayne Kwong

Wayne Kwong is the Police Department IT Division Manager, responsible for planning, directing, and managing the IT Division of the Mesa Police Department. In his previous role with the Mesa Police Department, he served as the Police Information Technology Administrator, where he was responsible for planning, directing, and managing the operation of police information systems. His responsibilities include providing the vision and direction for the Police Information Technology Unit (PDIT), systems development, acquisition, implementation, and support.

Before serving as the PDIT Administrator in February 2020, Wayne supervised the CAD Team, Database Team, and Applications Development Team in PDIT for more than 6 years. He initially started his career with the Mesa Police Department in PDIT as an IT Engineer, where he specialized in Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server database technology.

Before joining the Mesa Police Department in October 2001, Wayne served as a senior consultant at Deloitte in Los Angeles, CA. He provided consultative services to various companies in various industries. These services include: Data modeling and design, system analysis and design, business process analysis and optimization, business methodology development, business requirement assessment, design documentation, and application design and delivery.

Wayne holds both, a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Arizona State University.

Office of Strategic Initiatives &
Community Relations Manager Tara Hall

Tara Hall oversees the operations and staff of the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Community Relations, working closely with the Chief of Police and executive leadership team to support department wide direction, alignment, and priorities focused on improving public safety and strengthening community trust. The office advances this work through organizational foresight, data and performance insight, and project management that helps advance public safety outcomes while aligning with community safety priorities.

Tara began her public service career in 2002 and has served in a range of operational and leadership roles supporting organizational performance, recruitment modernization, strategic staffing, and community engagement. She co-authored the article Pioneering Integration and Leadership in Policing, published in Police Chief Magazine, and serves on the Board of Advisors for the National Association of Professional Staff in Public Safety. She provides technical assistance to law enforcement agencies through the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is a partner with the Michigan State University Police Staffing Observatory. In 2025, she was named the Professional Staff Leader of the Year by the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives.

Detention Administrator Christina Vangorden

Christina Vangorden has dedicated more than 22 years to the field of law enforcement, bringing extensive experience, leadership, and commitment to every role she has undertaken. Since joining the Mesa Police Department in 2018, she has served as a Manager within the Professional Services Bureau, where she provides oversight of the Evidence/Supply Unit, Holding Unit, and Municipal Security operations at both the Mesa Municipal Courts and Mesa City Plaza. In this capacity, Christina is responsible for ensuring operational efficiency, staff development, and the highest standards of professionalism in support of the department’s mission.

Her career in public safety began with the Arizona Department of Corrections before she transitioned to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, where she spent 15 years and advanced through the ranks to the position of Detention Commander. In that role, Christina directed both administrative and operational functions of the jail, gaining broad expertise in detention management, resource allocation, and interagency collaboration.

Christina’s academic achievements further complement her professional experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resources Management. These educational foundations have strengthened her ability to lead complex teams, implement strategic initiatives, and foster a culture of accountability and growth within the organizations she serves.

Media / Communications Administrator Lisa Berry

Lisa Berry has served as the Media / Communications Administrator for the Mesa Police Department since 2024, where she leads the Media Relations Office and oversees all aspects of the department’s public information efforts. Lisa began her journey in public safety in 2006—and in 2013 specifically focused her efforts on law enforcement media relations—she brings a wealth of expertise in strategic communication, crisis response, and community engagement.

A skilled communicator and seasoned public information professional, Lisa is known for her ability to build strong relationships with media partners and community stakeholders. She applies a strategic approach to social media, media relations, and crisis communications to uphold and promote the mission and values of the Mesa Police Department.

Before joining the City of Mesa, Lisa served as a communications professional with the City of Goodyear Police Department and the Glendale Fire Department. Her foundational career as an elementary school teacher—spanning a decade—reflects her lifelong commitment to public service and education.

Lisa holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master of Education from Arizona State University. She is also an active member of the National Information Officers’ Association (NIOA) and National Association of Professional Staff in Public Safety (NAPSPS), staying current with best practices in public information, crisis communication, and leadership.