Specialization & Advancement Opportunities

Tempe Police Department Specialty Assignments

The Tempe Police Department has many opportunities for specialization and advancement to include a variety of special assignments and promotion.  Newly hired police officer recruits become police officers upon graduation from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy.  In addition to several specialties officers may seek, those who qualify may promote to the rank of sergeant or beyond.  Below are several of the special assignments within the Tempe Police Department.

Investigations Division:

• Bomb Squad
• Canine Unit
• Detectives - Criminal and Special Investigations 
  • Computer Forensics Unit, Criminal Apprehension Surveillance Team, Document Crimes Unit, Domestic Violence Unit, Homicide & Missing Persons Unit, Juvenile Unit, Narcotics Unit, Property Unit, Special Victims Unit and Robbery & Aggravated Assault Unit
• Homeland Defense
• SWAT Team

Organizational Services Division:

• Audit & Compliance Unit 
• Internal Affairs Unit 
• Firearms Training Unit 
• Media Relations & Community Affairs Unit 
• Recruiting & Hiring Unit 
• Training Unit 
  • Field Training Program

Patrol Division:

• Central City Bureau
  • Bike Squad
  • Mounted Unit
• North & South Patrol Bureaus 
  • Crime Prevention Unit 
  • Gang Unit
  • Mobile Field Force Team 
  • Patrol Squads 
  • Tactical Response Unit 
• Traffic Bureau 
  • Accident Motor Squads
  • DUI Squad
  • Hit & Run Detectives
  • Special Enforcement Motor Squad 
  • Vehicle Crimes Unit