Page 28 November 2011 Commander Glen Gardner Commander offers area experience By Monica Fidura For 23 years, Glen Gardner has served as a police of fi cer in Phoenix from undercover narcotics to fl ight supervisor in helicopter units. In July he took on the post of commander of the Mountain View Precinct, formerly known as Squaw Peak, which encompasses much of the Arcadia area. “He is a fantastic partner to the community,” said Ann Malone, who founded Require The Prior to improve the Indian School Road corridor and diminish the threat of career criminals to public safety. She drafted a policy endorsed by the Phoenix police union calling on of fi cers and judges to look at the criminal record of those with repeat misdemeanor crimes and sentence accordingly. Malone said Gardner is a listener. “He doesn’t tell us what we need, he asks,” she said. Gardner said residents like Malone encourage him because of their commitment to making their neighborhoods a better place to live and insisting on accountability. “I come in and I do this for a living, those people are volunteers who do it, and that inspires me when I walk in.” Gardner said his goal is to give residents a voice in their community, as part of his duty and vision for Mountain View. “I give them the opportunity to have that voice.” Gardner, who replaced Allen Smith, has been a commander for the past eight years. Before joining the Mountain View precinct, Gardner was duty commander for 14 months where he covered all citywide operations from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. A wide array of experience follows Gardner to Mountain View. He started as a patrol of fi cer in Paradise Valley and also participated in research for the Phoenix Police Department to help shape what is now the Mountain View precinct. Continued on page 29 ! ""#$ %&$ " '"%'( %)*+$,-" ('$&,$+.$, %&"% ++ $/*+,".$ '"++ ,+" $- &*+"("% +% $%($,,(%' %($ ,, ,," (" ,('$ ."# ($('$&"$-"$+ -& $ $+ (",'"*,0 !"" 1 ! 2 1! 13
Page 29 November 2011 Commander Continued from page 28 He later went on to serve as the liaison between the police department and city council. Gardner has been in the Phoenix Police Department as long as he has lived in the state. “It’s the place I have lived the longest anytime in my life so I would like to consider it my home,” Gardner said. Before moving here, Gardner lived in Florida and was searching for a place he could settle after moving around so much as a child. His father worked for NASA, and even though Gardner was born in the United States, Spanish was his fi rst language. He lived in Mexico, the Bahamas, Venezuela, and along the East Coast. While the constant transitioning provided him plenty of experience, constant uprooting “made me yearn to have some roots somewhere,” Gardner said. Gardner speci fi cally chose Phoenix for its police department, hopping on a bus and studying on the road, hoping to pass the entrance exam and join. He was about 25 years old and “looking for an exciting career opportunity.” Gardner said he was excited to come to Mountain View for its diversity and abundance of organized community groups. “Probably the most impressive thing about this area is how many active neighborhood groups we have … that are well organized and meet on a regular basis,” Gardner said. Gardner is passionate about the police department connecting with the neighborhoods it protects. With fewer than 3,000 of fi cers to cover more than 500 square miles of Phoenix territory, Gardner said it is crucial for the police department and residents to interact. “On our own we just don’t have enough people to know what’s going on,” Gardner said. It is not only the right, but also the duty of residents to hold their public of fi cials accountable, he said. In addition, it is necessary for neighborhoods to get involved with policing their district. “We can’t do our job without people who are willing to pick up their phone and give us information,” Gardner said. Keeping the lines of communication open not only helps police catch the bad guys, but also prevents crime in the fi rst place, he said. “The vast majority of our really good arrests come from information from our citizens,” Gardner said. Likewise, the police department must provide the necessary tools to help communities protect their neighborhoods. “We are accountable to a public and community outside,” Gardner said. Free thong panty with EVERY EVERY bikini wax ……not just for first time ladies, this applies EVERY TIME YOU COME IN!! EVERY TIME YOU COME IN!! Now open in your neighborhood! Call now to book your appointment 40th and Camelback (next to Fresh and Easy Fresh and Easy) Conveniently located in the Camelback Corridor Like us on First Time Client FREEBIES...* FREEBIES...* Women: Free eyebrow, underarm or lip Men: Free eyebrow, nose or ear * must be local resident ax ur ur 602.449.1919 www.urbanwaxing.com 602.449.1919 www.urbanwaxing.com Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology Cutting Edge Technology Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available Offering Spanish to All Grade Levels Plan to Visit our Open House on Nov. 4 from 9:00am - 2:00pm Or Schedule a Personal Tour! CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8 Shop our Holiday Boutique! Nov. 4, 8:00am-3pm 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org P e d i a t r i c D e n t i s t r y & O r t h o d o n t i c s www.camelback pedoor tho.com 44th Street & Camelback Road 602-595-3531 V isit us and see the the many ways we can care for your family. D r . J e n M i r a b e l l i B o a r d C e r t i f i e d O r t h o d o n t i s t D r . R o b M i r a b e l l i B o a r d C e r t i f i e d P e d i a t r i c D e n t i s t