New ALEAP Commissioner Appointment

Stacy Olson
May 19
2 min read

We are pleased to announce that Chief Thomas Garrity of the Yuma Police Department has been appointed to the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program Commission, effective June 1, 2026. Under Chief Garrity's leadership, Yuma PD earned the ALEAP Triple Distinction Award in 2026, recognition for achieving accreditation across all three ALEAP programs: law enforcement, emergency communications, and property and evidence.

Chief Garrity brings more than three decades of law enforcement experience to the role. He spent 33 years with the Prince William County Police Department in Virginia, working his way up from patrol officer to Commander - leading both the Violent Crime Bureau and the Special Investigations Bureau before being selected from a nationwide search to become the 15th Chief of Police for the City of Yuma in January 2023.

A native of Paxinos, Pennsylvania, and a U.S. Army veteran, Chief Garrity holds a Bachelor of Science from George Mason University and a Master of Public Administration from National University. His professional development includes graduation from the FBI National Academy (Session 280), the Senior Management Institute for Police, L.E.A.D. training through the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, and crisis intervention training.

Community-oriented policing has been a thread throughout his career, going back to 1994, when he volunteered as one of the first community police officers in his Virginia department. Since arriving in Yuma, he's emphasized fairness, transparency, and partnership with the community as the foundation for modern policing. His perspective, shaped by experience in a rapidly growing East Coast jurisdiction and now a unique Arizona border community, will be a real asset to the Commission's work.

Please join me in welcoming Chief Garrity. The attached roster reflects the current Commission membership.