|
St. Johns Police Personnel |
|
|
St. Johns Police Personnel
Jim Ziel
er became the City’s 4th
Chief of Police in November of 1998 where he has served ever
since. Chief Zieler’s career in law enforcement began in 1988 with the Arizona
Department of Corrections, followed by a nmber of positions with the Apache
County Sheriff’s Office including patrol, narcotics and violent crimes
investigations, gang enforcement, and special operations. Chief Zieler is a
veteran of the US Marine Corps and holds an associate’s degree in criminal
justice, a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration, and is a graduate
of the FBI National Academy.
Chief Zieler is married to a St. Johns native and has five children, all living in St. Johns.
Donny Jones was hired as a patrol
officer with the police department in March of 1999 and served in that capacity
until he was promoted to the rank of ser
geant
in December of that year.
Sgt. Jones has filled many leadership roles in the police department, has
specialized training in supervision, investigations, and police use of force,
and has been the recipient of the department’s Officer of the Year award. Sgt.
Jones began his career in law enforcement with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office
in November of 1991. Sgt. Jones is a veteran of the US Marine Corps and holds an
associate’s degree in criminal justice.
Sgt. Jones is married with two children, all living in St. Johns.
Larry “Butch” Gunnels was hired
as a patrol officer in March of 1998 where he served until
he
was promoted to the rank of corporal in October 2002. Cpl. Gunnels has extensive
training and experience in the investigation of criminal sexuality
and crimes against children. He has been instrumental in establishing successful
community based programs for the police department, including the annual
Toys for Kids program. Cpl. Gunnels’ law enforcement career began in 1983 with
the Apache County Sheriff’s Office, and includes service with the Bullhead City
Police Department and the Ft. Mojave Tribal Police Department as well. Cpl.
Gunnels is also a veteran of the US Marine Corps.
Cpl. Gunnels is married with five children, with all but two
Tammy Poe was hired as a records
clerk for the police department in January of 1
999
and has served in that capacity ever since. Tammy began her career
in law enforcement with the Eagar Police Department as a police dispatcher in September
of 1990. A short time later she transferred to the Apache County Sheriff’s Office
where she continued her service as a public safety dispatcher until 1996, when
she took time off to assume the important role of mother for her two young sons.
Tammy’s resume also includes two years volunteer service in the Apache County
Superior Court.
Tammy is married to a St. Johns native and has two sons and three step-
After owning and operating a
successful bookstore in the Phoenix area for over 20
years,
Debbie Neckel and her family moved to St. Johns for the quality of life the
community had to offer. Debbie has substantial experience with computers, in operating, building, and
the development of software programs, and she holds a certificate in computer
science.
Debbie is married, has two adult children, one daughter attending St. Johns High School, and has three grandchildren.
Creig Wallace was hired as a
patrol officer in May of 2000, where he has served
until
he was transferred to the position of detective with Apache County’s
multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force in November of 2003. As a patrol officer, Creig assumed
the role of the department’s primary traffic accident investigator and has
received substantial instruction in accident investigation and reconstruction.
He has also been the recipient of the department’s Officer of the Year award.
Detective Wallace began his career in law enforcement as a reserve officer for
the San Juan County New Mexico Sheriff’s Department in June of 1995. He has also
held the position of reserve officer for the Bloomfield New Mexico Police
Department.
Detective Wallace is married to a St. Johns native, with one son who splits his time between St. Johns and the Farmington area, and a newborn
Lucas Rodriguez was hired by the
St. Johns Police Department in August of 2002, at which time he was sent to the
Central Arizona Regional Law Officer’s Training Academy.
Upon
graduation, Officer Rodriguez quickly became an asset to the community with his strong motivation and
dedication to law enforcement. Officer Rodriguez fluently speaks and writes
Spanish, and has been instrumental in providing services in St. Johns to those
who use Spanish as a primary language. Although St. Johns Police Department is
the first law enforcement position Officer Rodriguez has held, his employment
history includes several positions in security and corporate loss control, and
his resume includes a black belt distinction in tae kwon do. Officer Rodriguez
also holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice and is a veteran of the US
Navy.
Officer Rodriguez is married to a St. Johns native and has one daughter, three step-daughters, and is expecting another child in April 2005.
Darrell Moerch was hired as the
department’s school resource officer in November of 2003.
Officer Moerch came to the police department following a successful career
and retirement from the Eastman Kodak corporation. Darrell’s resume also includes
nearly 13 years as a reserve deputy sheriff with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s
Office. His law enforcement experience includes substantial training in firearms
and firearms instruction, as well as a current emphasis on school safety. Today,
Officer Moerch holds an associate’s degree in electrical engineering technology,
a private pilot’s license,
and a federal firearms dealer’s license. Most recently, he he has assumed the
role of the department’s crime scene photographer.
Officer Moerch is married and has three adult children living in Arizona.
Officer Aaron Tyler Smith joined the ranks of the St. Johns Police Department in
April 2004 while attending the po
lice
academy at Eastern Arizona College. Following his graduation from the academy
in May 2004, Aaron moved to St. Johns from the Thatcher area to begin his career
in law enforcement.
Prior to beginning the police academy, Aaron attended both Mesa Community College and Easter Arizona College where he studied performing arts and administration of justice. Aaron has a strong background in martial arts and holds the distinction of a 2nd degree black belt in American Kenpo.
Aaron married in October 2004, right here in St. Johns at the city park. He and his wife plan to make St. Johns their permanent home.
