The City of Phoenix on 8 July named Matt Giordano the next chief of police, ending a two-year stretch without a permanent leader for the 2,700-officer department. City Manager Jeff Barton said the appointment reflects feedback from residents, labor groups and community stakeholders gathered during a comprehensive national search. Giordano, 52, currently heads the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board and previously spent nearly 23 years with the Phoenix Police Department, rising to commander before leaving in 2018. His three decades of law-enforcement experience also include a stint as executive chief of enforcement at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Phoenix reopened its recruitment in April after Interim Chief Michael Sullivan withdrew his candidacy and later became chief of the U.S. Capitol Police. Giordano emerged from a finalist slate that included Prince George’s County, Maryland, Police Chief Malik Aziz and former DeKalb County, Georgia, Chief Mirtha Ramos. A public forum with the finalists was held on 16 June, and the city had pledged to decide in July. Mayor Kate Gallego called the hiring “a good result,” citing Giordano’s familiarity with the city’s challenges and ongoing reform efforts following a U.S. Justice Department civil-rights investigation released last year. Giordano said he is “honored to return to the department where my career began” and will focus on rebuilding community trust and bolstering officer accountability. His start date and swearing-in will be announced once standard background reviews are complete.