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 Paul Etnire
In November of 2021, Captain Paul Etnire was assigned as Commander of the Public Affairs Unit. Captain Etnire started his law enforcement career in 1993 as an officer with the Flagstaff Police Department. In 1994, he joined the Arizona Department of Public Safety and was assigned to Winslow as his first duty station. As a trooper, Captain Etnire held assignments in patrol, recruiting, Metro Motors, Governor’s Executive Security, SWAT as a hostage negotiator, and at the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy as an instructor. After being promoted to sergeant, Captain Etnire held supervisory assignments in Highway Patrol, the State Gang Task Force, SWAT, the Arizona Fraudulent ID Task Force, and the Criminal Investigations Division Administrative Staff. After being promoted to the rank of Captain in 2016, he held command assignments with the Highway Patrol Metro South District and the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force. In addition, Captain Etnire serves as the Department’s Tribal Liaison. In this role, he is responsible for developing and implementing the Department’s tribal consultation policies and working with each of Arizona’s twenty-two tribes. Captain Etnire holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University. He is also a graduate of Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the Arizona POST Arizona Leadership Program.
Sergeant Jesus Gastelum
Sergeant Jesus Gastelum began his career with the Department in August 2008. After graduating from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy, he was assigned to District 5, which covers the central Phoenix area. During that time, he received training as a law enforcement phlebotomist and Drug Recognition Expert. In 2014, he transferred to the Major Crimes District, working as a detective in both the Vehicular Crimes Unit and the Special Investigations Unit. In 2017, he promoted to sergeant and was assigned to the Highway Patrol Division administrative staff. He has held sergeant positions in the Traffic Operations Center, DUI Squad and Operational Training Section. In September 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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