Swearing in Ceremony for Matthew Giordano as the City's New Phoenix Police Chief

On Thursday, August 28th, 2025, the City of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police Department held a swearing-in ceremony for Matthew Giordano as he officially stepped into his role as the new permanent Phoenix Police Chief. The event took place in the Phoenix City Council Chambers, and Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Jeffery Rueter performed the swearing-in. The ceremony was live-streamed on YouTube.com/cityofphoenixaz and on the Phoenix.gov homepage. Media outlets were invited to cover the event, which marked an important leadership transition for the department.

Starting on August 2025, Phoenix residents living in qualifying census tracts can apply to receive a free outdoor garden system from LEHR Gardens. The LEHR Garden is an elevated garden engineered to be a low-maintenance system. The LEHR garden system is 3ft x 8ft and includes a 70 gal. water tank that is placed above ground under the garden. It requires a minimum of 36 square feet and a relatively flat surface with access to a water spigot and two electrical outlets. Gardeners will have to produce plenty of compost to add to soil, observe water tank, will need to be comfortable with insects, and have patience as this system is low maintenance.

Learn more about the system:

English Specification Sheet:English LEHR Specification Sheet
Especificaciones del sistema Huerto de vinculación entre el ecosistema y el hardware para la regeneración (LEHR): Español LEHR Espec

Application Period:

Application Period: August 4–September 30, 2025 
Participants Selected: October 2025
Anticipated Garden Installation: October–November 2025  

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and selected applicants will be notified via email. Applicants who are qualified and meet eligibility criteria may be waitlisted. Applicants who do not meet eligibility requirements will be notified via email. 

If you would like to apply by phone instead, please call 602-262-6347.

The Phoenix Community Safety Plans (CSPs) are making a real difference in District 3. The CSPs focus on improving safety and quality of life in key areas along I-17, using technology, police, City staff and resources like community cleanups, graffiti removal and homelessness outreach. A new study by ASU looked at the progress made by the CSPs since they started nearly three years ago; it found crime is down in every CSP area and residents say their neighborhoods look and feel safer than before. Learn more about the ASU study here.

Phoenix Public Library is teaming up with Phoenix Rising FC to promote literacy, community engagement and local sports. Library cardholders can receive 2 free general admission tickets to select Phoenix Rising home games. Tickets are limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s a great way to support local sports, enjoy family fun, and celebrate community — just by having a library card.

Here’s how it works:

• Visit the customer service desk at any Phoenix Public Library location

• If available, check out 2 free tickets and receive a voucher slip

• Bring the slip to the stadium box office on match day to receive your tickets

• Show your library card at the box office to get $16 general admission for additional tickets

Learn more at phoenixlibrary.org

The Phoenix Police Department is rolling out a new AI-powered call triage system for the department's non-emergency (Crime Stop) phone number. This cutting-edge technology will improve service, reduce wait times, and help ensure that emergency calls receive priority attention.
 
As of August 13, 2025, when community members call the non-emergency line, they will be greeted by a conversational AI system capable of speaking 36 languages. The languages included are: Arabic, Italian, Russian, Armenian, Japanese, Serbo–Croatian, Bengali, Korean, Sinhala, Cantonese, Laotian, Somali, Croatian, Malay-(Latin), Spanish, English, Mandarin, Tamil, French, Pashto, Telugu, German, Persian, Thai, Greek, Polish, Turkish, Gujarati, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Hebrew, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, Romanian, and Vietnamese.
 
The system will then ask a few simple questions to determine the purpose of the call and will automatically direct the caller to the right resource.
 
Depending on the situation, the system may transfer callers to Phoenix PD's Online Reporting portal, Silent Witness, Safe School Tips, the Office of Homeless Solutions, Arizona Humane Society, or other City and community resources.

"The goal of the system is to get the citizens the help that they need faster and more efficiently, too," said Phoenix PD Communications Administrator Allie Edwards. "It's also going to free up the call takers to take those emergency and non-emergency calls that they need to triage, and then send to an officer in the field."
 
For example, if a caller reports a vehicle break-in, the AI system will determine if the report can be completed online. In those cases, the caller will receive a text message link to the online portal. If an officer is needed, the call will be routed directly to a Communications Operator for dispatch entry.
 
By automating routine non-emergency calls, the department can provide faster service to residents while enabling police operators to focus on urgent situations.
 
Cut sound from Communications Bureau Administrator Allie Edwards can be found at https://we.tl/t-2eyhwG6NZF.

What is Aerification?

Aerification is a mechanical process that creates more airspace in the soil and promotes deeper rooting, helping the grass plants stay healthy. It is done by removing half-inch cores (those plugs you sometimes see near a green or fairway) from compacted soil, allowing for an infusion of air and water, bringing a resurgence of growth. The spaces are filled with sand by a process called “top dressing”. This process helps the soil retain airspace and makes it easier for roots to grow deeper.

The Benefits of Aerification:

1. Aerification loosens soil that has been compacted by golfers' foot traffic and maintenance machines rolling over it.

2. This opens growing room for the roots and increases oxygen to the roots.

3. The roots of the turfgrass can grow deeper, creating a healthier putting surface.

4. Removes organic matter to reduce thatch and provide the conduit for incorporating sand into the greens.