Heston Silbert, who recently retired as head of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, has been named 2022 Chief of the Year by the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police.

Silbert was honored during the AACOP meeting and luncheon Jan. 27 in Mesa.

Silbert “has been described as someone you want to be at your side when situations go south,” said Lance Spivey, chief of police for the City of St. Johns and vice president of the AACOP.

“He is ethical, humble, decisive, thoughtful and authentic. These qualities have earned him the trust and respect of other chiefs, elected officials, community members, activists, line-level officers and professional staff that he’s led throughout this distinguished career.”

Silbert served nearly eight years with AZDPS, including five years as deputy director and more than two years as director. He retired from the department on Jan. 6.

Prior to AZDPS, Silbert worked at the Mesa Police Department for four years, and before that he spent 22 years with the Phoenix Police Department.