Senate panel advances Hobbs’ DPS pick
Glover nomination now awaits full Senate vote
On Monday, the Arizona Senate committee for director nominations confirmed Gov. Katie Hobbs’ pick for a director to run the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
In a 5-0 vote, the committee agreed to recommend to the Senate former Tempe Police Chief Jeffrey Glover to the job.
The committee also approved the nominee to run the state forestry department.
Hobbs nominated Glover to the position in late January and he took over in February, making him the first Black person to head the department.
After nearly two hours taking questions and hearing from community supporters, Glover said he was felt a little less nervous after the committee voted to recommend him. Now, he gets to move forward with the job he was appointed to do until the full Senate votes to confirm him.
“The job continues,” Glover said after the hearing.
The committee asked a range of direct questions, ranging from law enforcement crisis and de-escalation training, systemic racism in policing, border security, protests, his vision for the department, to his working relationship to
Hobbs.
Lawmakers on the panel directed most of their pointed questions to the controversial Border Strike Force, a DPS unit created by then Gov. Doug Ducey in 2015, which Hobbs has vowed to scrap. Glover said he was not consulted but said that DPS would take a supportive role in the state’s efforts to keep borderlands safe.
The committee is led by Republican Sen. Jake Hoffman, who has criticized Hobbs of not sufficiently vetting her nominees. Hobbs however, believes that Hoffman and other Senate Republicans are trying to create roadblocks in her nominees’ confirmation process.
Hoffman and the other members of the committee said they were impressed by Glover’s responses to their tough questions. They appreciated his open and honest answers.
“Even when the questions were direct and in some cases, political in nature,” said Hoffman to Glover before expressing his yes vote, “I think you’ve set an example for how every nominee should be conducting themselves in these hearings.”
Before Monday’s hearing, the committee had only recommended confirmation for half of Hobbs’ four nominees.
Who is Jeffrey Glover?
Glover started his career at the Tempe Police Department in 1999 after serving as the commander of both Criminal and Special Investigations Division, which includes homicide, narcotics, and SWAT team.
In his time with the department, Glover worked through the ranks and in a variety of divisions. His experience includes work in field training, narcotics, crime prevention, patrol, and professional standards. In February 2020, after over 20 years of service, Glover retired. However, he returned to the Tempe Police Department that October to serve as the interim chief. In fall 2021, he was appointed to be the permanent chief for the department.
In his time there, he focused his efforts on such topics as community involvement and education, fair and impartial training, and leadership training.
In taking over DPS, Glover oversees nearly 2,1000 employees. The agency is in charge of patrolling Arizona’s highways, conducting criminal investigations, and collaborating in regional and statewide task forces.
In his opening statement to the committee, Glover expressed his dedication to collaborating with agencies and stakeholders to reduce traffic deaths on Arizona’s highways, tackling the fentanyl crisis, and combating human trafficking.
After his hearing, Glover told The Arizona Republic he wants to hire more troopers and equip them to improve responses and coverage for incidents.
Hobbs put out a statement late Monday expressing that she was happy with the committee’s decision.
“I am proud to have nominated someone who today was able to stand up and defend his long history of public service,” she wrote.
Glover awaits a vote from the full Senate. He can work up to a year in the position without confirmation.
The committee also voted 5-0 to recommend Hobbs’ pick to lead the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Thomas Torres. Torres previously worked for the U.S. Forest Service for three decades in various roles, including as deputy supervisor of the Tonto National Forest.
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