PEACH SPRINGS, Ariz. -- On Tuesday, November 1, 2022, the Hualapai Tribe and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) entered into an agreement for mutual aid and the cross-commissioning of AZDPS troopers on the Hualapai Reservation.

The agreement provides for the orderly and effective enforcement of criminal and traffic laws on the Hualapai Reservation through this mutual aid agreement between Hualapai Police Department and AZDPS.

“This historic signing is a memorial testament to the mutual agreements between tribes and state governments,” said Hualapai Tribal Vice Chairman Shelton Crozier. “We are looking forward to the prosperity of working across the jurisdictional boundaries to improve public safety.”

The Hualapai Tribe is a sovereign nation located in northwestern Arizona. The reservation encompasses more than one million acres along 108 miles of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. The Hualapai Reservation occupies parts of three Arizona counties, including Coconino, Yavapai, and Mohave counties.

Phoenix — The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) has been awarded over $527,000 in grant funding from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The grants will help with overtime costs for troopers during driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement details, targeted distracted driving enforcement operations, seatbelt enforcement details, collision reduction details, and the street racing task force. The grant funding will also support overtime staffing in Operational Communications and the State Crime Laboratory.

Funds will also be directed to the training of additional Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) and will also allow for the purchase of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) speed measurement devices and other speed measuring radars to be used for traffic enforcement by troopers.

GOHS has allocated grant funds in support of these programs:

• $40,000 for seatbelt enforcement details
• $100,000 for DUI enforcement
• $30,000 for distracted driving enforcement
• $152,369 for STEP speed enforcement and equipment
• $30,000 for the Street Racing Task Force
• $70,000 in overtime funding for the state crime lab
• $15,000 for dispatch support for DUI & street racing enforcement
• $90,000 for DRE training, materials & supplies

“Speed, impaired driving, aggressive driving, and seatbelt usage continue to be the leading causes of serious injury and fatal collisions,” said Lieutenant Colonel Deston Coleman Jr., Assistant Director of the Highway Patrol Division at AZDPS. “Thanks to the continued support of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, state troopers will be able to increase enforcement and make the roadways safer for the motoring public.”

I am announcing my retirement from the Department of Public Safety effective Friday, January 6, 2023. It has been an honor of a lifetime to have served the men and women of the Department of Public Safety, and the citizens of this great state. As Director I observed firsthand the selflessness, dedication, and bravery of our Arizona State Troopers and professional staff.

I would like to thank Governor Ducey for his support and faith in me. I understand the process and wish nothing but the best for Governor Hobbs and her team.

Colonel Heston Silbert, Director
Arizona Department of Public Safety

The AZDPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Task Force (CVETF) Division will participate in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's 2023 Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative from January 9, 2023, through January 13, 2023. The initiative seeks to reduce human trafficking throughout North America through coordinated enforcement and investigative and educational awareness measures within the commercial motor vehicle industry.

CVETF members, “Truckers Against Trafficking”, and industry partners - including personnel from retail truck stops and bus stations - will distribute outreach materials that assist in combating human trafficking at ports of entry, truck stops, bus stations, and roadside inspections.

The CVETF Division is comprised of uniformed sworn personnel and professional staff from the Arizona Department of Transportation's Enforcement Services Bureau and the AZDPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau. The mission of the CVETF Division is to ensure safe, secure, and efficient commercial transport across Arizona.

We are pleased to announce Governor Hobbs’ appointment of current Tempe Police Chief Jeffrey Glover as Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Chief Glover brings with him more than 20 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Tempe Police Department in October of 1999, serving in a variety of roles throughout the department including Narcotics Detective, Media Relations Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, and Commander of the Criminal and Special Investigations Division. He was appointed as Chief of Police of the Tempe Police Department in October of 2020.

Chief Glover holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Phoenix. Chief Glover is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Command School.

Read the news release from Governor Hobbs here: https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/news/2023/01/governor-hobbs-announces-cabinet-members-focused-improving 

On Tuesday, January 17, 2023, detectives with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) Vehicle Theft Task Force (VTTF) conducted salvage yard business inspections in order to combat chop shop operations at businesses in the area of 4024 to 4124 West Broadway Road in Phoenix. This operation was conceived in an effort to disrupt the flow of stolen vehicles that end up in chop shops at salvage yards throughout the Phoenix area.

During the operation, 12 business inspections were conducted and three business search warrants were served. Approximately 2,150 vehicles and motors were inspected, 19 stolen vehicles were recovered, and one suspect was arrested.

Mohammad Moe Lathgani, 36, of Phoenix, was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on charges including one count of chop shop operations, four counts of theft of means of transportation, and one count of possession of dangerous drugs. Lathgani is the owner of 1st Choice Auto Parts #2 salvage yard.

Our partners at the following agencies and organizations provided critical assistance in this investigation:

• Apache Junction Police Department
• Pinal County Sheriff's Office
• Phoenix Police Department
• Tucson Police Department
• Arizona Department of Insurance
• Chandler Police Department
• Tempe Police Department
• Glendale Police Department
• Peoria Police Department
• Goodyear Police Department
• Gilbert Police Department
• National Insurance Crime Bureau
• Arizona Department of Transportation
• Homeland Security Investigations

The VTTF is comprised of city, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies participating in a concerted effort to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals and criminal organizations that profit from the theft of motor vehicles and related crimes.

The VTTF serves a vital mission on behalf of the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA) to reduce vehicle theft in Arizona by deterring criminal activity through effective and proactive enforcement, prosecution and public awareness programs. The VTTF is substantially funded by an annual grant from the AATA.

From January 9th through January 13th, 2023, the AZDPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Task Force (CVETF) Division participated in the second annual Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Human Trafficking Awareness initiative. The initiative seeks to reduce human trafficking throughout North America using coordinated enforcement in addition to investigative and educational awareness measures within the commercial motor vehicle industry.

During this initiative, 108 CVETF personnel, "Truckers Against Trafficking" members, and other industry partners - including personnel from retail truck stops and bus stations – distributed over 12,000 wallet cards and window stickers at ports of entry, truck stops, bus stations, and roadside inspections.

Additionally, CVETF personnel made presentations about the initiative to the Phoenix Truck Driving School in Mohave County and the Casa Grande Alliance, and completed 865 commercial motor vehicle inspections.

"I applaud these efforts to reduce the ongoing threat of human trafficking," Governor Katie Hobbs said. "As a former social worker, I have seen firsthand the gravity of the situation and know we must do everything we can to ensure that we all take part in fighting this humanitarian issue."

The CVETF Division comprises uniformed sworn personnel and professional staff from the Arizona Department of Transportation's Enforcement Services Bureau and the AZDPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau. The mission of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Task Force is to ensure safe, secure, and efficient commercial transport across Arizona.

On Thursday, January 19, 2023, at approximately 7:55 p.m., a three-vehicle collision occurred on westbound Interstate 10 near 43rd Avenue, in Phoenix. Multiple 9-1-1 callers reported several vehicles engaging in street racing in the area at the time of the crash.

Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) troopers suspect the driver of an Infiniti sedan was racing other vehicles when he swerved right to avoid slowing traffic, lost control of his car, and struck a highway barrier wall before swerving back across highway travel lanes and striking a commercial tractor-trailer. The impact from the Infiniti caused the tractor-trailer to swerve left, collide with a pickup truck and strike the median barrier.

The Infiniti driver’s reckless actions resulted in injuries to other motorists, significant damage to multiple vehicles, and caused major damage to highway barrier systems. This collision also led to a three-hour road closure, impacting many motorists during their evening commute.

The driver of the Infiniti, 31-year-old Julian Beltran-Cardenas, of Phoenix, was arrested and faces charges including racing on highways, reckless endangerment, and aggravated assault.

Drivers and participants caught engaging in street racing may face penalties including a 20-day vehicle impound, fines, community restitution, and the possibility of jail time for second and subsequent offenses.