Interim Tempe Police Chief Sworn In Thursday

TEMPE, AZ — The city of Tempe's next police chief was sworn in during Thursday's city council meeting.

Tucson's interim Police Chief Jeff Glover has been on the job since Monday but his temporary role became official during the meeting. He is the city's first Black police chief.

Glover retired from the Tempe Police Department in February after nearly 20 years of service. He began his law enforcement career as a Mesa Police patrol officer in 1998 before joining the Tempe police force the following year. He served four years as a commander in the department, including over the SWAT and Professional Standards Bureau areas. Glover has served as a Governor-appointed Commissioner on the Arizona Commission for African American Affairs since 2018.

The meeting began at 6 p.m. and was streamed on the city of Tempe’s website.

In a Sept. 15 news release, the city said former Police Chief Sylvia Moir has "agreed to leave her role" and her resignation was accepted by City Manager Andrew Ching. Moir was the Tempe Police Department's first female chief. She had held the position since 2016.

Tempe police have come under fire in recent months after a white officer held a Black hotel employee at gunpoint while searching for a white suspect who was believed to be armed. Video of the encounter on Aug. 29 made the internet rounds and drew ire from the community. The city also settled with the family of Antonio Arce, the 14-year-old who was fatally shot in the back by an officer while holding a toy gun; the Tucson City Council approved a settlement of $2 million in June.

Tempe Mayor Corey Woods previously announced a new public safety task force in August that aims to examine and innovate policing in the city, particularly focusing on how the police department engages with communities of color and those with mental health issues. That task force had its first meeting Tuesday, though it was closed to the public.

Glover is set to fill in until October 2021. Ching will lead the search for a more permanent police chief in the next year, though Glover could be considered for the role as part of his contract.