The Phoenix Police Reserve: A Centennial of Service

In July 1943, Police Chief James Duane
assigned a group of special police
officers to work as desk officers in the
detective bureau from 7:00 p.m. to
2:00 a.m., nightly. The special police
officers were under the direction of
Paul Fannin, the special police group
personnel officer. This detective desk
staffing at night by special police
officers allowed for the release of a
detective or a detective sergeant back
into the field for active investigations.
At other times, the special police
officers worked rodeo parades,
national safety council vehicle
checks and presidential candidate
visits to Phoenix.
On August 12, 1948, two special
police officers reportedly observed
and followed a suspicious vehicle
traveling without headlights
on McDowell Road towards Six
Points. After “a running fight”
near the main gate of the state
fairgrounds, the two special police
officers captured a criminal escapee
from the Florence Annex of the
Arizona State Hospital.
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THE PHOENIX POLICE RESERVE | A CENTENNIAL OF SERVICE