Mark Goodman, most recently a commander for the Pasadena Police Department in California, has taken over as chief of police for the City of Maricopa.
Selected by the City Council in December, he started Jan. 23 and was officially sworn in March 8, after completing the requirements for AZ Post’s waiver process for out-of-state officers.
He has an open-door policy for employees and the community and believes that is important for maintaining Maricopa’s status as one of the safest communities in the state, according to a City press release.
“I firmly believe that people choose to live, send their children to school, establish businesses and play in cities based on safety,” Goodman said. “Through community partnerships, the Maricopa Police Department will continue to ensure public safety for everyone who works, lives and plays in this city and will be an integral part of unlocking the full potential of the City of Maricopa.”
Goodman grew up near Pasadena in San Gabriel while his father worked there as a police officer. He joined the Pasadena department in 1994 and advanced over the course of 28 years, starting out in patrol and advancing by working in every division before being appointed commander in 2020.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a master’s degree in organizational leadership and is a graduate of the POST Command College and the FBI National Academy.
He has embraced the value of community policing throughout the course of his career and has made local appearances at places like schools and Chamber of Commerce meetings.
“The next iteration of community policing requires law enforcement to make deep connections and to build safer neighborhoods and business districts through collaborative partnerships,” Goodman said. “That means my door is always open so we can continue building those partnerships.”
Goodman and his wife Victoria have three grown daughters. He succeeds former chief Jim Hughes, who left in September 2022 after becoming chief in January 2021 following the retirement of Steve Stahl from the role.
