The Phoenix Police Department has been recognized nationally for our innovation in reaching the community we serve and commitment to crime victims. The Department has been honored with the Versaterm Innovation Award for 2025. The first-place national award recognizes public safety agencies, forensic labs, court systems, schools and others that use any Versaterm solution to help solve their problems that results in better outcomes for their organization and respective communities. This annual award celebrates the Department’s problem-solving efforts and showcases our commitment to our community.
“The Phoenix Police Department always strives to improve, and I believe this recognition is a testament to that ideal. This achievement reflects the dedication and very hard work of the entire team who made this a success,” said Acting Phoenix Police Chief Dennis Orender.
The Phoenix Police Department implemented CommunityConnect in August 2024 to strengthen our commitment to those who call police for help and those who are victims of crime. CommunityConnect is an automated customer service solution that sends text messages and emails directly to 9-1-1- callers and crime victims along with mobile-friendly surveys to community members who interact with our officers. This tool has proven successful in a number of ways including strengthening the trust of our community by keeping them updated on the status of their calls and case, while providing critical data to our Department to make better informed operational decisions.
Most recently, the Department’s use of CommunityConnect has been expanded to include a function that allows survivors the ability to check the status of their Sexual Assault Evidence Kit 24/7. The enhancement provides additional resources to support survivors through this difficult process and is an important part of the City’s victim centered, trauma-informed approach to sexual assault survivors.
"It is an honor to receive this Innovation Award from Versaterm. This recognition highlights our commitment to becoming more victim focused and strengthening trust within our community, said Assistant Phoenix Police Chief Ed DeCastro, whose team spearheaded the project.
Members of the Phoenix Police Department will be on hand in November to receive the award at the Re:Invent 2025 Users conference in Salt Lake City.
