Lt. Col. Daven Byrd

Highway Patrol Division

In January 2025, Lt. Colonel Daven Byrd was assigned as the Assistant Director leading the Highway Patrol Division. Prior to that, July 2022 through December 2024, Lt. Colonel Byrd led the Technical Services Division as Assistant Director.

Lt. Colonel Byrd began his law enforcement career in 2005 as a State Trooper assigned to the Highway Patrol Division and has since held various assignments in each of the Department’s operational and support divisions. As a State Trooper, his first assignment was patrolling the Camp Verde/Cottonwood/Sedona area of Yavapai County. In 2008, he was selected for assignment as a Detective in the Major Crimes District of the Criminal Investigations Division and relocated to Phoenix. He then completed assignments as the Department’s State Trooper Academy Coordinator, Field Training Program Coordinator, Impaired Driving Enforcement Programs Coordinator, and Sworn Professional Development Coordinator.

In 2015, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and selected to supervise the Vehicular Crimes Unit. He then completed assignments as the Operations Sergeant in the Criminal Investigations and Agency Support Divisions. In 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and assigned as the Operational Training Commander, where he oversaw the Department’s Field Training Program, Lateral State Trooper Academy, Firearms Training Unit, Use of Force and Defensive Tactics Program, and Emergency Vehicle Operations Training. In 2018, he was assigned as the Bureau Commander managing the Information Management Bureau and as the Department’s Chief Information Officer. In 2020, Lt. Colonel Byrd was promoted to the rank of Major and assigned as the Highway Patrol Division’s Chief of Staff where he served until his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel leading the Technical Services Division. Lt. Colonel Byrd also served as the Department’s Chief Technology Officer, Chief Security Officer, FBI CJIS Systems Officer, and Arizona NLETS Representative.

As the Assistant Director of Highway Patrol, Lt. Colonel Byrd leads statewide uniformed State Trooper Operations, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, and Capitol Operations Troopers, along with specialized support, administrative, investigative, and intelligence units.

Lt. Colonel Byrd is a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy, and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and a Master of Public Administration, as well as graduate certificates in Project Management and Criminal Justice Education.