Former Phoenix police officer JJ Martinez is running for City Council

• Candidate name: Jesse (“JJ”) Martinez
• Political affiliation: Non-partisan
• Position wanted: Phoenix City Council (Ward 5)
• Age: 51
• Career: Former Phoenix police officer, current K-9 handler at HonorHealth

In the eyes of Jesse, “JJ,” Martinez, his deep roots in the Valley and a 30-year career in the Phoenix Police Department make him an ideal candidate for Phoenix City Council.

Martinez is a nonpartisan candidate running in District 5 against incumbent Betty Guardado, who has held the position since her election in 2019.

Martinez is a District 5 native and spent his entire childhood in the area. He graduated from Maryvale High School in 1990.

Martinez’s career with the Phoenix Police Department began in 1994, after which he served 26 years as an active officer and four years as a reserve officer. Martinez has held various positions including patrol officer, motor officer, first responder, detective and school resource officer.

The Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association supports Martinez.

“We don’t just support Jesse because he’s a former Phoenix police officer. We support him because we believe he has the right values,” said Ben Leuschner, the association’s president. “Jesse really enjoys helping people. He’s a down-to-earth, normal guy. He is not a professional politician. He’s just a police officer who worked on the streets with regular workers.”

Sara Fierro, a mother whose child attended Washington Elementary School while Martinez served as school resource officer, saw Martinez as a positive addition to the school.

“JJ is someone who cares deeply about the community and tries to make it a better and safer place. “Students generally felt comfortable with him and parents knew our children were in good hands,” Fierro said.

Martinez retired from the police force in 2020 and now works as a K-9 handler for HonorHealth.

Top campaign priorities

Martinez’s campaign materials list top priorities including combating homelessness and the opioid epidemic, improving economic development and reducing crime.

Homelessness and the Opioid Epidemic

Martinez sees a connection between homelessness and the opioid epidemic.

“What we’re dealing with right now – the increase in homelessness – is the opioid epidemic that has spread among the homeless,” Martinez said.

He has plans to combat homelessness and help drug addicts.

“I think we should provide addicts with services to clean up, and those who say they are ready to clean up, we should remove them from their environment and place them in transitional housing while they recover from their addiction,” Martinez said. “We should give them skills so that they can be productive members of society.”

Economic development and crime

Martinez sees high crime as a deterrent to new businesses in District 5.

“We have to fight crime to bring about good economic development,” Martinez said. “It happens in Glendale, it happens in Avondale, it just doesn’t happen in Phoenix.”
He said he sees his community’s desire to live healthier lives, so he would like to open a Whole Foods store or a ProteinHouse in District 5.

“We have a few gyms nearby, so people are trying to live a healthier lifestyle,” Martinez said. “I would approach these businesses and ask them how we can get them to locate in this area because I think they would be successful.”

Martinez hopes to bring thriving businesses to the 27th Avenue corridor, but said crime needs to be addressed.

“I would like to see the 27th Avenue corridor around Grand Canyon University become another Mill Avenue with its restaurants and bars. It has this potential, but if you go there at night you’ll see prostitutes walking up and down the street. This needs to be addressed,” he said.

Engage with the Latino community

Martinez’s campaign slogan is “Unidos Podemos,” which means “Together We Can.”

For him this means that all community growth is a collective effort.

“Unidos Podemos is about the community coming together to solve problems. Everyone has a role to play. It’s not ‘Yo puedo (I can),'” Martinez said.

As a Latino and Spanish speaker, Martinez said he hopes to engage even more with the Latino community if elected to the council.

“I plan to have an open-door policy, which means attending Latino community events, answering their questions and concerns, and making it clear that the Phoenix Police Department is not here to deport anyone. That’s not our job,” Martinez said.

Phoenix Police Department Reform

On August 5, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice initiated a 34-month civil pattern or practice investigation into the Phoenix Police Department.

On June 13, the DOJ released its findings in a report saying it found evidence that Phoenix police committed civil rights violations and used excessive force. The report specifically noted that at the time of conducting the investigation, the department was “using excessive force, including unjustified deadly force and other types of force” and “discriminating against Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans in enforcing the law.” among other things, findings.

Martinez said the DOJ’s findings do not reflect his experience working for the Phoenix Police Department.

“I think what’s in this DOJ report doesn’t accurately reflect what we did,” he said. “When this report came out, my first thought was that what they described was not the agency I worked for. I’ve never seen that. A lot of things that were in that first DOJ report made me wonder, “Can I see these cases?”

Still, Martinez said the department still has room for improvement.

“The police here will never be perfect, but that won’t stop us from trying. We are always proactive. We do a self-assessment. We are debriefing,” he added.

Martinez’s campaign website says he supports “increasing the number of police body cameras, improving accountability and transparency within the police force, ensuring financial transparency and maintaining constant communication.”

At the DOJ’s recommendation, the City Council met on September 24 to discuss plans for police reform.

During the meeting, Office of Accountability and Transparency Interim Director Shannon Johanni provided an update on the office’s Civilian Review Board, which was established by the Council on May 15 to provide independent civilian oversight of police.

Johanni explained that a training topic for the Civilian Review Board was the Phoenix Police Department’s complaint, misconduct and use of force processes and procedures.

Martinez said he hopes Civilian Review Board members can learn firsthand about police practices before making decisions.

“One thing I would like to see the Civilian Review Board do is for them to attend the Citizen Police Academy so they can see the tactics we use, the training we do and get an idea of ​​what we do should do,” he said.

Following the presentations, council members unanimously directed staff to implement the recommendations in a police reform memorandum written by Mayor Kate Gallego, Council Member Kevin Robinson and Council Member Kesha Hodge Washington.

The memo’s recommendations call for improvements in “documenting police activities, improving the police department’s investigative and evaluation process, considering and analyzing citizen complaints, establishing the highest standards of professional accountability, expanding the use of body-worn cameras, and fully Staffing the City’s Dispatcher “highlighted teaming and updating guidelines for appropriate interaction with young and at-risk populations.”

Regarding the memo, Martinez said he believes the council’s decision is valid.

“I respect the council’s decision. I’m excited to see what happens next,” Martinez said. “I’m a fan of the bodycam footage. It’s not something I’m afraid of and it gives people a lens to see what we deal with every day.”