Phillip Francisco has been hired as the Navajo Nation's new chief of police. Photo courtesy Navajo Nation OPVP
The Navajo Nation has a chief of police for the first time in eight years. Facing pressure from the Navajo Nation Council, President Russell Begaye put a priority on filling the vacancy. The post will now be held by Phillip Francisco, 40, a tribal member. “The nation has gone for eight years without a chief of police and the search has finally ended with the hiring of a Navajo officer from Farmington, N.M.,” Begaye said on Wednesday. “Bringing on a new chief will provide stability to our police force while reinforcing to the public that we are serious about protecting them.” Francisco has nearly 18 years of experience as an officer, mainly for law enforcement agencies in New Mexico, according to Begaye's office. He will start his new job in early August. “The first thing I want to do is review policies to make sure they fit the needs of the citizens on the Navajo Nation. This way we can have our officers serve the citizens more effectively and efficiently," Francisco said.
Police officers from the Ramah Navajo Chapter in New Mexico. Photo from Ramah Navajo Police Department / Facebook
Navajo lawmakers had directed Begaye to fill the position by July 13. They said the lack of a chief of police kept the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety from moving forward with efforts to improve law and order and reduce crime on the largest reservation in the United States. "This is a historic event for the Navajo Nation," Delegate Otto Tso said late last month after the council was informed that two candidates were finalists for the job. "The nation has waited many years to have a police chief." One of the Division of Public Safety's primary initiatives is the establishment of nine sub-stations in order to address the needs of local communities. The division is also looking to hire police chiefs for each of the seven police districts on the reservation. Local leaders have been lobbying for sub-stations due to high crime rates in their communities. Bessie Allen, the president of the Pinon Chapter in Arizona, said gangs are responsible for an increase in shootings. "The crimes committed by the two rivalry gangs are getting out of control," Allen told the council last month. "Our schools, public buildings, shopping centers, and residential housing are not safe from shootings, vandalism, and assaults." According to the captain of the Chinle Police District, an area that includes Pinon, police calls rose from 7,767 in 2014 to 8,185 in 2015. There have already been 3,666 calls in the just the first five months of 2016. "There are only 22 police officers at Chinle district and it takes more than an hour to respond to emergency calls," Capt. Gary Grandson told council delegates. "Only one officer is stationed in Pinon, but if immediate back up is needed, there are five officers that live near Pinon."
Join the Conversation
