Queen Creek’s first chief of police, Randy Brice, is striving to create a police force that works for and with the community.
A life-long East Valley resident, Brice started working in Queen Creek in 2012, serving with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office assigned to District 6-Queen Creek. He fell in love with the town and 10 years later became the chief of Queen Creek’s first police department, which began serving in January.
He has spent his career in law enforcement, following in the footsteps of his father.
Brice calls his new position with a new police department a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He’s making the most of if by not only striving to create a force that cracks down on crime, but also works to be a friendly, sensitive face in the community.
Name: Randy Brice
Business Name: Queen Creek Police Department
Town/neighborhood: Queen Creek
When and why I moved here: I first started working in Queen Creek in 2012 as a Captain with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, assigned to District 6- Queen Creek. That’s when I fell in love with this community. I saw how much the Town and its residents cared about the community. Residents were passionate about supporting and engaging with their law enforcement officers.
Working in Queen Creek had been one of the highlights of my career up to that point. So, when this opportunity was presented, I jumped at the chance to start up a brand-new police department and be a part of something extraordinary.
What I like most about living here: Not only do I love working here, I live here too. It is exciting to be part of such a vibrant and safe community. We have the feel and connection of a small-town community with the amenities and attractions of a bustling city. We see new residents moving in, businesses popping up, and roads expanding. At the same time, we are surrounded by beautiful landscapes, farm land, equestrian activities, and a wonderful agritainment lifestyle. This sort of responsible and planned growth highlights the amazing leadership at the head of these efforts and makes Queen Creek a unique, amazing place to live.
What I do: I have the amazing opportunity to serve this community as the very first Police Chief. I am responsible for leading and guiding a very complex, dynamic organization that is less than a year old (Jan 11, 2022 was our launch date).
I have an incredible team of lieutenants, sergeants, officers, and dedicated professional staff who work with me to make this department a success. The foundation of our efforts is deeply rooted in the tenets of proactive, collaborative, and community based policing. Our vision for this effort has always been to succeed together (with the community) while serving with Respect, Compassion, and Trust.
Personal background highlights: I am a proud Arizona native with an amazing family. Although I am fairly new to the town, I have lived in the East Valley my entire life. Outside of work, I have served my community as a youth advisor, Boy Scout leader and mentor for more than 30 years.
Professional background highlights: Over the past 30 years, I have had the opportunity to serve in a variety of law enforcement capacities and earned several unique certifications including Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), Field Training Officer (FTO), CIT Officer, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Dive Master, and Paramedic (CEP). I have worked in patrol, detectives, tactical operations, traffic, lake patrol, school resource, mounted, community outreach, and many other special programs/assignments.
I retired from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in May 2016, and joined the Gilbert Police Department as a Commander. I also served as the Interim Chief of Police and the Assistant Chief of Police over the Investigation-Support Bureau.
On July 20, 2020, I started as the Chief of the Queen Creek Police Department.
Over my career, I was awarded many different commendations and citations including multiple lifesaving and meritorious medals. I was also named deputy/officer of the year on several occasions.
I also strived to expand my knowledge by earning a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Management and a Masters in Strategic Leadership (MSL). I also attend the prestigious FBI National Academy and other law enforcement executive training courses.
What I like most about what I do: I get to wake up every day with the opportunity to make a difference for someone else. I get to watch over the community and keep my own family and neighbors safe. The decisions I make as a law enforcement leader have the potential to impact others and change lives in a way that I never imagined. That is both incredibly rewarding and extremely humbling.
Likewise, I have been given the chance to build a brand-new police department that is forward thinking, compassionate, and responsive to the community. This has truly been a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. I am honored that the Town of Queen Creek granted me this incredible opportunity.
What does being nominated for this category mean to you? It is extremely humbling. Like many of my peers, I abhor talking about myself. Strangely enough, I am a fairly private person. Although that may seem contrary to my current assignment, I recognize the opportunity I have in this position and I am grateful for the challenge. Every day, I pray that my actions exemplify my commitment and convey my dedication to the community.
I am extremely honored to be considered as one of your Hometown Heroes.
What does it mean to be a Queen Creek resident? My family and I have fallen in love with Queen Creek. This community offers a safe environment with a great quality of life. The crime rate is extremely low and we live in a neighborhood where we actually know our neighbors.
No matter where you live in Queen Creek there is a park or other amazing amenity nearby; residents are proud of their equestrian and agricultural roots; and the future of our community looks bright and inspiring.
Most of all, this is a very friendly and attractive community. People take pride in their homes, neighborhoods, and businesses. Residents are service-minded, charitable, and extremely kind. What a place to live!
What do you think you bring to the local community that makes it better? Commitment, kindness, dedication, enthusiasm, respect, and years of experience.
Although there were many exceptional candidates who would have made a great police chief, I am confident that the skills, perspective, and unique experience I brought to the table provided a firm vision and roadmap for the organization. Not only did I spend several years in the community as a law enforcement leader, I served for multiple years as an executive law enforcement officer in a neighboring community with similar issues, goals, and community objectives.
As a resident, who happens to be the police chief, I want to see the Town succeed. I want my family to live in a community that is connected and working together to maintain a specific quality of life.
Most of all, I want to make sure that the Police Department is a beacon of kindness, dedication, and service.
What would you tell people about why it's important to make a difference in Queen Creek? There is a great story about a group of people that had been asked to move a grand piano from one room to another for an upcoming concert. None of the individuals were professional movers and they had no special equipment to aid them in their efforts. They all came up with myriad of different ideas on how to accomplish the task, but none of the solutions were successful. Then out of the blue, one person stated, “Everyone, stand close together and lift where you stand.”
This perspective is exactly what we need in our community when faced with the complexity and scope of challenges that come our way. The tasks or issues are too big for just one person. But by standing close together, combining our strength and resolve, we can accomplish anything. You do not have to be a professional “Mover,” you just need to contribute what you can from where you are. Merely, “Lift where you stand.”
Changes I'd like to see in this area: Our Town is growing rapidly and we need to continue to pull together regardless of our size or differences. In a world that continues to be more and divisive, Queen Creek can be the beacon or standard for successful collaboration and community.
Favorite community cause & why: On the heels of the pandemic, we have seen a significant rise in mental health crisis related calls. People in the community are suffering through a variety of challenges that continue to drive unique problems and conditions. The community has responded to our call for assistance and we have partnered with various businesses, faith-based organizations, schools, and other individual advocates. These efforts have been focused on how to prevent, mitigate, manage, and resolve drug related problems, domestic violence, sexual based crimes, suicidal ideations, and other mental health crises.
Although this is a vast effort across many disciplines, these issues are often interrelated and we have found significant success in combining these groups or efforts. At the same time, we have to ensure that our first responders are ready to manage these challenges. I am passionate about training and preparing today’s police officers to handle the different obstacles we face in policing today. Together, with our various partners, we have been able to effectively respond to these situations and develop positive outcomes.
My family: Although I love being a police officer, my family is the center of my life. I have been blessed with an amazing wife and wonderful children that also find ways to give back to the community.
My interests and hobbies: Outside of work and family it is difficult to find time for any sustainable hobbies. However, I am an avid learner and enjoy diving into areas or disciplines that are not necessarily part of my current skill set. As a family we also enjoy the outdoors. When time permits, we love to hike and ride our ATVs all over Arizona.
The trait(s) I admire in others: Charity. What I mean by this single word is a person that loves unconditionally, is kind, selfless, and seeks to serve others in whatever capacity is needed.
People who inspired me (and how): Although this is a long list, my lifelong heroes (and it is a tie) are my parents. My father who passed away this year was a law enforcement officer for almost 45 years. My mother was a nurse. More importantly they were (and are) the kind of people that were always there for me. They taught me the importance of hard work, kindness, and service. Obviously, they were not perfect people, but with all their many flaws, they loved and cared for me every day.
My guiding philosophy: This is a tough one to answer. I have a number of philosophies that have developed over time and continue to guide my daily actions. I would like share three that are at the top of my list.
The first is simple, “Be kind.” In every aspect of my life, I try my very best to take a breath and just be kind.
The second, is a sort of family motto we borrowed from a children’s book that seemed to aptly describe our life. The title of the book was “Could be worse.” I know that sounds pessimistic, but we have a different view. For my family it helps to contextualize every struggle or obstacle. We minimize the bad and focus on the good. Finding the positive in every situation and being thankful for the blessings is the key.
The last thought is from one of my favorite poems by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. In the final line, the mythical hero Ulysses states, “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” In other words, no matter the obstacle, drive forward with tenacity, bravery, and enthusiasm. Don’t give up, just keep moving one small step at a time.
My advice to today’s youth: One of my favorite quotes really sums up the advice I would give to the youth of the community. It states, “Learn from the past, prepare for the future, live in the present.” In our topsy- turvy world, it is easy to get frustrated, sad, angry, and lost. For many, the future is uncertain and scary. Have faith and work hard now. Lean on parents, mentors, and trusted adults. Your efforts will pay off.
Janet Perez News Editor | Queen Creek &
San Tan Valley @AzNewsmedia
Meet Janet Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.
Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.
Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science.
Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.
Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.
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