3. PENZONE_TOQC CONTRACT TERMINATION LTR 08-31-2021.PDF
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22358 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 | 480-358-3000 | www.QueenCreekAZ.Gov
August 31, 2021
Mr. Paul Penzone, Sheriff
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
301 West Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 84003
Dear Sheriff Penzone:
Re: Revised Termination Date of Contract with the Town of Queen Creek
As you know, Mayor Barney sent an official contract termination letter on June 22, 2020 (attached) requesting a termination
date of January 2, 2022 of the Town’s law enforcement services contract with Maricopa County. In my discussions recently with
Executive Chief, Russ Skinner, he suggested I draft this letter formally requesting for an extension of the termination date in
anticipation that the request may procedurally require Board of Supervisors approval.
As you know, we have been working diligently with the City of Mesa on a partnership that would allow the Town to share dispatch
services with the Mesa Police Department as part of our transition to the Queen Creek Police Department. The Town of Queen
Creek, as part of our police budget will pay a proportionate share of capital and administrative resources as part of this
partnership. Unfortunately, there have been unexpected delays in completing the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that
compel us requesting an extension of the termination date of our contract with MCSO from January 2, 2022 to January 11, 2022.
The Queen Creek Town Council will be taking action on the IGA with Mesa at their September 15, 2021 regularly scheduled
meeting and the City of Mesa will be taking action shortly thereafter as well. Allowing an additional nine days for the termination
date will ensure adequate timing for staff training and the necessary technology interfaces can be adequately tested upon the
turn to the new calendar year.
As we have communicated throughout this transition, we have made much progress and achieved most of our goals as part of
the transition. This is an exciting time for Queen Creek and we have a solid foundation of community support of law enforcement
from our over 30 years of service provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. Our success in this transition would not be
possible without you and your entire team’s support of the Town and we are sincerely appreciative.
Thank you again for your continued support. If there is any additional information needed, please do not hesitate to contact me
directly at (480) 358-3905.
Sincerely,
John Kross, ICMA-CM
Town Manager
Attachment: June 22, 2020 Contract Termination Letter
cc: Queen Creek Mayor and Town Council
Heather Wilkey, Queen Creek Intergovernmental Relations Manager
Randy Brice, Queen Creek Police Department Chief of Police
Russ Skinner, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Executive Chief
June 22, 2020
Mr. Paul Penzone, Sheriff
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
301 West Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 84003
Dear Sheriff Penzone:
Re: Termination of Contract with the Town of Queen Creek
As you know, the Town of Queen Creek has been undergoing an analysis for creating our first municipal police
department for a couple of years now. In December 2019, the Queen Creek Town Council was presented with a
detailed law enforcement study that analyzed the Town’s options for policing, at which time we directed the staff to
embark on an exhaustive 60-day public comment process in an effort to solicit feedback from our community about
these options. The results of this public outreach were overwhelming supportive of the Town starting a process to
transition to a municipal police department.
At the June 17 Town Council Meeting, with the approval of the Fiscal Year 2020/21 budget, the Council approved
funding for a new municipal police department. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of our contract, this letter serves
as our official contract termination effective January 2, 2022. While we recognize that starting a police department
cannot happen overnight or certainly at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2020, it is our intent to have an
official cut over from the Sheriff’s Office to the new Queen Creek Police Department on or about January 1, 2022. We
estimate it will take about 18 months to transition properly from our contract with the Sheriff’s Office. Also at the
June 17 meeting, the Council approved the updated Exhibit A with the fiscal year 20/21 charges for our contract with
the Sheriff’s Office as specified in the contract rate and terms. Despite our staffing up with new police department
leadership, we will need the Sheriff’s Office to continue policing as normal during the 18-month transition process
while the Town hires department leadership, procures equipment, materials and services.
On behalf of the entire Town Council and staff, I want to express my sincerest appreciation for the 30 plus years of
service your agency has provided to our community. Queen Creek is a wonderful place to live, raise a family and grow
a business. None of these qualities of our community character would have been possible without your support and
the many years of service provided by the talented men and women in the Sheriff’s Office. Queen Creek’s termination
of the contract with the Sheriff’s Office should not be interpreted as a reflection on the quality of service provided by
your team, but rather, a natural consequence of our growth, urbanization and progression of the maturity of our
community.
As we transition to our new municipal police department, you and your executive team offered as much assistance as
possible and we will need to take you up on that offer. You also have offered your direct assistance to ensure a smooth
transition and I would be personally grateful for that leadership and continued support of your executive team to assist
as may be needed during our transition.
22358 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 | 480-358-3000 | Fax: 480-358-3001 | www.queencreek.org
Pg. 2, Re: Termination of Contract with the Town of Queen Creek
During this transition, if there are any questions or need for clarification on anything, please contact John Kross, Town
Manager at john.kross@queencreek.org or directly at 480-797-4487. John is leading the transition team along with our
new Chief of Police once that individual is officially appointed. As part of our process, we will be establishing recurring
meetings with Sheriff’s Office staff to ensure an orderly transition.
Thank you again, for the many years of a wonderful partnership and your leadership.
Sincerely,
Gail Barney
Mayor