Staff Writer | Mayor of Scottsdale
Scottsdale is safer today than it was a year ago, thanks to the committed effort to make significant improvements to proactive policing, strategic enforcement and continued investment in officer training.
Collectively, these initiatives, together with decisive action, delivered measurable improvements in public safety throughout the community since Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky took office in January 2025.
Mayor Borowsky confirms keeping Scottsdale one of the safest cities in the nation remains her No. 1 priority — and the latest results show her common sense leadership at City Hall is paying off for residents and businesses alike.
“Public safety is the foundation of a strong, vibrant community,” Mayor Borowsky said. “Thanks to the dedication of our police officers and professional staff, Scottsdale continues to lead not only in quality of life, but in safety and accountability.”
Today Scottsdale is now ranked among the top 15 safest cities in the nation in 2025 for communities with populations over 100,000, placing the city in the top 5% nationwide.
When comparing 2025 year‑to‑date totals with the same period in 2024, Group A crimes declined by 24.3%. Group A crimes, defined by the FBI’s National Incident‑Based Reporting System as the most serious offenses, have declined by 24%, numbers show.
Strategic traffic enforcement has led to improvement on long‑standing resident concerns related to speeding, street racing and excessive noise. Focused patrols along key corridors resulted in a 24% reduction in traffic complaints compared to 2024, improving neighborhood safety and quality of life, numbers show.
The Scottsdale Police Department also made significant progress in reducing operational backlogs. A citywide photo enforcement processing queue that once totaled nearly 15,000 cases was reduced to a manageable level within months, improving responsiveness and accountability, the mayor reports.
In addition, specialized units continue to play a critical role in complex investigations and community safety throughout the year as the Crisis Response Team responded to hundreds of calls involving individuals experiencing mental health crises, earning lifesaving and critical response awards.
The department’s Street Crimes Unit, Drug Enforcement Unit and federal task force partnerships led to major arrests and seizures, including large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and firearms, disrupting organized criminal activity both locally and regionally.
Scottsdale Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit also assisted in the international arrest of the city’s No. 2 most‑wanted fugitive, helping bring justice in a decades‑old case.
Scottsdale PD: investing in training, people and wellness
Calendar year 2025 also marked the grand reopening of the Thomas A. Hontz Police and Fire Training Facility. The campus features advanced simulation spaces, a live‑fire shoot house and expanded classrooms to ensure officers receive training that meets modern standards.
Mayor Borowsky led the charge to ensure compensation enhancements were delivered to the men and women of the Scottsdale Police Department — now one of the top three highest‑paid law enforcement agencies in the Valley. This important policy decision will have the immediate impact of strengthening recruitment and retention efforts.
Last year, Scottsdale Police Department employees earned state and national recognition for their work. Honors include FBI recognition for investigative contributions, national forensic certifications achieved by Scottsdale crime lab scientists, and statewide awards for emergency communications excellence, including Dispatch Incident of the Year for handling an active shooter response.
“Safety doesn’t happen by accident,” Mayor Lisa Borowsky said. “It’s the result of planning, training, accountability and a deep commitment to serving this community. Scottsdale’s residents deserve nothing less.”
