Public Affairs Unit
The Public Affairs Unit serves as the agency’s primary media liaison and in-house creative services provider through its public information officers (PIO) and creative staff. The public information officers resolve issues of mutual concern with media outlets and ensure the agency is providing necessary services and/or responses to the media regarding news stories concerning the agency. The creative services team produces a wide array of marketing materials for the agency including web-based graphics, printed brochures, pamphlets, posters, press conference displays, logos, video and photography.
Meet the Public Information Officers
Captain Eddie Rogers
Captain Eddie Rogers began his career with the Department in March 2004. Captain Rogers was assigned to District 5, which is Phoenix’s Metro Central area, until 2012. In 2012, he was assigned to the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy as a Recruit Training Officer. Captain Rogers was then assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division Major Crimes District Special Investigations Unit in 2013. In 2014, he promoted to sergeant and was assigned to the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy as a Basic Academy Training Sergeant until February 2016. From 2016 until October 2019, he was assigned to the Internal Affairs Unit. In 2019, he was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division administrative staff. In December 2020, he promoted to captain and was assigned to the position of commander of the Public Affairs Unit.
Sergeant Jimmy Chavez
Sergeant Jimmy Chavez started his career with the Department in September 1989. Upon graduation from the Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy, Sergeant Chavez was assigned to Parker, Arizona within the Highway Patrol Division. Sergeant Chavez transferred to Yuma in 1992 and remained there until his promotion to Sergeant in 2007. Upon his promotion, Sergeant Chavez was assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau in Phoenix. During his time, he filled several operational and administrative supervisory positions. From 2015 until May 2021, Sergeant Chavez was assigned to the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC). In 2021, he was assigned to the Public Affairs Unit.
Raul Garcia
Raul Garcia has been a full-time professional PIO with the Department since 2013. Before joining AZDPS, Garcia served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Garcia began with the Department in 1999 as a cadet and was sworn in as a trooper in 2000. He was assigned to the southern Highway Patrol's District 6, stationed in Casa Grande, AZ. In 2003, he transferred to Highway Patrol District 7 Motors squad in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Additionally, during his time with the Department, Garcia served as a police motorcycle instructor and was a part of the Department's Honor Guard. In 2012, he transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division and as a detective he served on a task force that investigated financial, property and violent crimes associated with illegal immigration and human smuggling. Garcia retired as a sworn law enforcement officer in July 2013 and shortly there after began his professional staff career with the Department.
Bart Graves
Bart Graves has been a full-time professional PIO with the Department since 2007. Graves studied journalism and broadcasting at Northern Arizona University. His first radio news job was at KEOS in Flagstaff, AZ., where he was hired as a News Director upon graduation. For over 25 years, Graves worked as both a reporter and anchor for a number of radio and television stations in Phoenix and Tucson. Graves also won numerous press awards including the AP Reporter of the Year in 1997 and the AP First Place Award for the coverage of the Rodeo-Chedeski fire in 2002. In early 2005, Graves went to work as Communications Director for the Arizona Department of Corrections. In March 2007, he became the first civilian media relations coordinator hired by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. He served as the Public Relations Director at AZDPS for over four years. He is currently the Media Relations Specialist.
Additional Information
Contact
You can reach a Public Information Officer (PIO) by email.
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