PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) has announced details of proposed investments included in Governor Katie Hobbs’ Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2026. These initiatives aim to enhance the well-being of Arizona residents, improve emergency response capabilities, and bolster public safety statewide.

Key highlights of the proposed budget include:

• Pay Increases and Support for Law Enforcement: A proposed 5% salary increase for state troopers, totaling $5.9 million in ongoing funding, is aimed at improving recruitment and retention. Additionally, the budget proposes a significant increase in uniform allowances for public safety personnel and funding to provide two more full-time employees to the Department’s Employee Assistance Program.
• Strengthening 911 Call Operations: $788,000 is proposed to add nine new call-taker positions at Phoenix and Tucson dispatch centers, improving response times and emergency service efficiency.
• Combating Arizona’s Fentanyl Epidemic: The proposed budget allocates $10 million to support drug interdiction efforts in border communities, including $5 million in ongoing funding and $5 million in one-time funding to the AZDPS’ Local Border Support special line item. These funds will provide grants to law enforcement agencies for drug interdiction initiatives in border communities, bringing the total FY 2026 investment to $23.2 million. Additionally, $1 million in one-time American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds is proposed for a statewide fentanyl awareness and education campaign in collaboration with state and federal partners.
• Critical Infrastructure Improvements: Proposed investments include $11.2 million to upgrade aging electrical systems at the AZDPS Phoenix headquarters compound, ensuring safety and efficiency. The plan also allocates $8.7 million to replace outdated patrol and non-patrol vehicles, $1.3 million for upgrades to the state’s public safety communications backbone, $2 million to replace offices in Payson and Sanders, and $693,000 for essential maintenance on AZDPS aircraft. These investments aim to ensure troopers have reliable tools for their missions and that emergency communication systems remain robust statewide for all the agencies that utilize them.
• Support for Crime Victims: $9.3 million in federal ARPA funds in FY 2026, providing grants to local organizations that offer services to help individuals and families recover and heal. A similar amount of Arizona state funds is projected for FY 2027 and beyond.

“Governor Hobbs’ proposed budget highlights her dedication to public safety and the people of Arizona,” said Colonel Jeffrey Glover, Director of the AZDPS. “These initiatives, if approved, will ensure our department has the resources needed to address critical challenges and improve service to the community. On behalf of the AZDPS, I thank Governor Hobbs for her leadership and unwavering support for public safety.”

While the Executive Budget represents a comprehensive plan to strengthen public safety, the proposed investments are subject to legislative approval. The AZDPS remains committed to working with state leaders to prioritize these critical needs.

For more information about the Arizona Department of Public Safety and its initiatives, please visit www.azdps.gov.

On Monday, January 6, 2025, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) Commercial Vehicle Enforcement trooper initiated a traffic stop on the driver of a Volvo tractor-trailer on eastbound Interstate 40 in Holbrook for civil traffic violations.

During the traffic stop and resulting commercial motor vehicle inspection, the trooper observed multiple indicators of criminal activity. A subsequent search of the truck and trailer revealed 553.8 pounds of cocaine concealed within a produce load.

Further investigation revealed the drugs were being smuggled from the cities of Salinas and Los Angeles, California, to Canada.

The driver, 31-year-old Amarjeet Singh Matharu, was arrested and booked into the Navajo County Jail on charges including possession and transportation of narcotic drugs for sale.

The estimated street value of the cocaine seized is between approximately $16.6 million and $22.1 million.

AZDPS remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners at all levels to dismantle drug trafficking operations and disrupt the flow of illegal drugs within our communities.

PHOENIX - On Dec. 11, 2024, personnel and partners of the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC) gathered to celebrate the fusion center’s 20th anniversary. This event recognized the growth, success, and achievements of the ACTIC and its partners in safeguarding the State of Arizona.

The ACTIC, also known as the Arizona Fusion Center, serves as a vital hub for information sharing, investigative and analytical support, and situational awareness that is critical to state and national security efforts.

Fusion centers were developed nationwide following the 9/11 terrorist attacks to provide a collaborative environment for federal, state, and local partners to exchange information in order to detect, mitigate, and deter terrorism. The ACTIC’s mission has evolved from a counter terrorism focus to an “all threats, all hazards” focus.

Since it was established in 2004, the ACTIC has played an essential role in protecting Arizona’s communities and critical infrastructure. The fusion center operates on a 24/7 basis and is responsible for sharing timely, relevant, and accurate information to support law enforcement and mitigate threats to public safety.

“Over the past two decades, the ACTIC has become a cornerstone of public safety in Arizona, supporting our law enforcement partners and ensuring that our state remains resilient in the face of evolving threats,” said Colonel Jeffrey Glover, Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. “The dedication and professionalism of our ACTIC personnel has created a model for fusion centers across the nation.”

ACTIC is a unified effort to secure Arizona, to prevent and deter terrorist attacks and protect against, and respond to, threats and crimes to ensure a safe and secure state while protecting civil rights and liberties of citizens.

“We remain committed to our mission and the principles that have guided us for the past 20 years—collaboration, vigilance, and preparedness,” said Major Frank Griego, Director of the ACTIC. “We will continue to evolve and innovate to meet the needs of our partners and the citizens we serve.”

To learn more about the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center or to access resources on counterterrorism efforts in Arizona, visit azactic.gov.

The mission of the ACTIC is to protect the public and critical infrastructures of the State of Arizona by enhancing and coordinating information sharing and providing effective, efficient, ethical, lawful, and professional intelligence and investigative support for local, county, state, tribal, federal, and private sector partners.