Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) Director Colonel Heston Silbert announced Tuesday that he would retire from his position effective Friday.
“I am announcing my retirement from the Department of Public Safety effective Friday, January 6, 2023. It has been an honor of a lifetime to have served the men and women of the Department of Public Safety, and the citizens of this great state. As Director I observed firsthand the selflessness, dedication, and bravery of our Arizona State Troopers and professional staff,” Silbert said. “I would like to thank Governor Ducey for his support and faith in me.”
In a separate announcement video addressing AZDPS employees, Silbert confirmed that he was contacted by staff from Governor Katie Hobbs’s (D) Administration, who informed him he would not be retained.
“It doesn’t necessarily come as a shock. It was just one of those things I had to prepare for,” Silbert said. “I completely understand the decision. I understand the process.”
It is up to Hobbs to pick a replacement to fill Silbert’s position. However, AZ Central reported that the new administration was “not yet announcing a new hire” at this time.
Despite leaving his current position, Silbert said he felt like “the most fortunate guy in the world” after having the opportunity to lead the department and that “nothing has been greater” than working with the AZDPS staff.
Silbert was appointed to his position by former Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in March 2020. Before that, he had served as Deputy Director of the department for five years and 22 years with the Phoenix Police Department, working in patrol and gangs. He earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University.
He self-described his reputation as a “hard-core street cop” but was not apologetic about that. Silbert also spoke about the experience he had as the department director. Specifically, he pointed to AZDPS’s repones to the riot at the Arizona State Senate following the Roe v. Wade overturn as one of the defining moments that demonstrated the character of the officers he works with.
“I could just go on and on. You [AZDPS offices] are unequivocally the most incredible people in U.S. law enforcement,” Silbert said. “Like I said, I’m a street cop, who got the greatest opportunity of a lifetime, and that opportunity was to be a part of you and to lead you.”
Silbert ended his video by thanking every AZDPS service member for their time and dedication.
Moreover, Silbert is not the only department leader leaving under the new administration. According to AZ Central, Arizona Department of Corrections (AZDC) Director David Shinn retired on Wednesday, January 4th.
However, Hobbs did recently announce several appointments to her public safety cabinet. These positions include Lt. Colonel Dana Allmond for the Department of Veterans’ Services, Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck to the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, AZDPS Deputy Director Ben Henry to the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, and Doug Sargent for the Department of Juvenile Corrections. This announcement did not include a new director for AZDC and AZDPS.
– – –
Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Arizona Capitol” by Wars. CC BY-SA 3.0.
