Chandler city manager: Police chief must move into city

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

After a media report surfaced that Chandler’s police chief appears to not live within city limits, the chief’s boss has given him a new directive.

In a statement, City Manager John Pombier said he has addressed the residency requirement with Chandler Police Chief Bryan Chapman.

“As such, this personnel matter has been resolved, fulfilling the charter requirement and City Council’s expectations that department directors reside in Chandler,” Pombier wrote.

A Chandler Police Department spokesperson, upon being asked what comment Chapman himself has about his intent to follow Pombier’s directive, deferred to the city’s communications department. No statement on the matter has been made by Chapman.

A media report stated Chapman owns property both in the Ahwautukee area of Phoenix, not far from the western edge of Chandler, while renting at least one property inside the city of Chandler.

Pombier, who was hired as permanent city manager in November, said, in his statement, he is reversing a decision made by his predecessor, Josh Wright, to declare Chapman’s arrangement as being in compliance with the charter.

“The residency status of the police chief, as it would be with any department director subject to the charter requirement, is a personnel matter, that is handled by myself as the city manager,” Pombier wrote. “I became aware of this matter upon receiving an anonymous email on June 3, 2026. I reviewed the situation and informed the City Council for the first time of the existence of the June 6, 2025, memo — drafted by the previous city manager — regarding the residency status of the police chief.”

Wright’s memo — dated a few days after Wright had put in his 60 days notice to quit as city manager — includes background on the charter, which was amended in 1972 to require “the city manager and all department heads need not be residents of the city or the state at the time of their appointments, but must become residents of the city within six months.” All city employees must reside within a reasonable radius of the city.”

The requirement applies to the chief of police position, Wright wrote.

“In recognition of this, you have taken specific steps to comply with both the letter and spirit of the charter provision,” Wright wrote. “Following your appointment as police chief, you established and have maintained a residential lease within the corporate limits of the city of Chandler. While continuing to own a family home in Ahwatukee, you have demonstrated good faith by maintaining a presence and legal residency within the city as required by the charter through the rental of a residence and the payment of living expenses on such rental.”

Wright wrote that he found Chapman’s actions “satisfy the letter” and the intent of the law.

“These are factors the courts consider in looking at residence for election purposes which is more stringent than compliance with the letter and spirit of the city charter,” Wright wrote. “Your effort to fulfill this obligation — by simultaneously managing the financial demands of your home and a Chandler rental property — reflects a clear and sustained intent to comply with the residency mandate.”

In April, Council voted to place four charter amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot. One proposed amendment keeps the city manager residency requirement at six months but extends it to one year for the three other offices appointed by the city council — currently the city attorney, city clerk and magistrate — and eliminates all residency requirements for department heads and all other city employees.

Pombier, at more than one recent meeting, made light of the perils of moving while making a point of saying he and his wife have moved into the city of Chandler.

Email Jason W. Brooks at jjbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.