Longtime Scottsdale cop promoted to assistant chief

LeDuc formerly oversaw downtown Scottsdale, municipal jail

Scottsdale Police Department Commander Joseph LeDuc has been promoted to the rank of assistant chief filling the spot vacated by the retirement of Scott Popp.

Mr. LeDuc’s promotion is effective Jan. 3, according to a press release.

“I have worked with Joe LeDuc since day one of my police career and I am very excited at the level of leadership that he will bring to the assistant chief position” said Jeff Walther, Scottsdale Police Department chief of police.

Mr. LeDuc is originally from Illinois. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. He is a 2018 graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy, a father and a husband, the press release stated.

Assistant Chief LeDuc joined the Scottsdale Police Department in 1992. He served as a patrol officer, field training officer, burglary detective and homicide investigator. In 2005, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. As a sergeant he worked as a supervisor in patrol, the special victims unit and internal affairs.

As the supervisor over the special victims unit, he ran the department’s sex offender tracking/notification efforts and oversaw all internet crimes against children investigations.

In 2013, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He served as a patrol watch commander until being selected to command the special investigation section in 2014.

This section is comprised of the drug enforcement unit, the federal DEA task force, the joint terrorism task force, and the intelligence unit.

During this time, he served a term chairing the Arizona State Governor’s Parent’s Commission on Drug Education and Prevention and served on a council to address the opioid epidemic.

In 2016, Mr. LeDuc was promoted to the rank of commander where he was most recently responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Downtown District and municipal jail, supervising and leading over 100 civilian and sworn police employees.

He also served as the public safety commander for the Waste Management Phoenix Open Birds Nest event for multiple years, the press release stated.

Assistant Chief LeDuc is an adjunct faculty member for Northern Arizona University where he designs, implements and teaches multiple courses in public agency management, justice studies, and intelligence. He is also very active in Special Olympics where he serves as the assistant state director for the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Assistant Chief LeDuc will oversee the department’s investigative, forensic services, training, internal affairs and the public information sections in his new role.