City of Phoenix Announces Police Chief Finalists Ahead of Public Forum

The City of Phoenix is moving forward with three finalists in the recruitment process to hire a permanent Police Chief.  

They were selected after a nationwide search that began in December, when the City brought on Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to conduct the search. The initial recruitment earlier this year did not result in the selection of a candidate. Applications reopened in April. The City and PERF gathered information during stakeholder listening sessions where business leaders, neighborhood groups, community leaders, labor groups and other key stakeholders shared what they think are the important characteristics of the department’s top leader. The City and PERF used that information to identify the most qualified candidates. Applicants were screened and semi-finalists were interviewed on June 3. The candidates all have large-city law enforcement experience.

The list of candidates was pared down to three finalists listed alphabetically:

Malik Aziz

Malik Aziz has more than 35 years of law enforcement experience, most of which was with the Dallas Police Department. For the last four years he has been the Chief of Police for the Prince George’s County Police Department in Maryland.  Aziz holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Dallas. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the FBI National Executive Institute, the Senior Management Institute for Police, and the IACP Leading Police Organizations. Aziz has served as President of the Dallas Police Athletic/Activities League, Chair of the Dallas Police Museum Board, and as an Adjunct Professor for Desales University.  He currently serves on the board of Advisors with the University of Virginia Center for Public Safety and Justice. He has 2 adult children and 2 grandsons.

Matthew Giordano

Matthew Giordano is the current Executive Director of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST).  Prior to joining AZPOST he was the Executive Chief of Enforcement for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and retired as a Commander from the Phoenix Police Department after more than two decades of service. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Purchasing and Logistics Management from Arizona State University and a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University. 

Mirtha V. Ramos

Mirtha V. Ramos began her career with the Miami-Dade Police Department in 1997. She ascended to the rank of Division Chief and served until 2019, when she was appointed Chief of Police of the DeKalb County Police Department in Georgia. During her tenure, she faced challenges such as the pandemic, protests, and staffing shortages while focusing on improving community relations, streamlining internal processes and procedures, and crime reduction. She graduated from the FBI National Academy and the FBI National Executive Institute and holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Professional Studies in Psychology of Leadership from Penn State University. 

The three finalists will appear at a public forum on Monday, June 16, 2025, giving members of the public an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates. 

The moderated event will be held at the Phoenix City Council Chambers, beginning at 5 pm. It will also air on PHXTV and will be streamed live on YouTube. During the forum, the candidates will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and answer questions submitted by the public. 

The community still has time to submit feedback and potential questions to the candidates:  
Community Survey.  
Encuesta de la comunidad. 

The permanent Phoenix Police Chief is expected to be announced in July. 

Interviews on the recruiting process are available with Deputy City Manager David Mathews. To schedule an interview please contact Kim Martin.