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Frank Milstead leaving Arizona Department of Public Safety

Posted 3/8/20

Col. Frank Milstead is stepping down from his role as the director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The office of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Monday, March 9 that Mr. Milstead …

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Frank Milstead leaving Arizona Department of Public Safety

Posted

Col. Frank Milstead is stepping down from his role as the director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The office of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Monday, March 9 that Mr. Milstead will retire April 3 after six years with DPS and over three decades of service in Arizona law enforcement.

“Frank Milstead is a trusted, proven leader ⁠— someone who for over 35 years has worn the uniform and put his life on the line to protect the safety of Arizonans,” Mr. Ducey stated in a release. “It’s in his blood ⁠— and his service to Arizona would make his dad, former DPS Director Colonel Ralph Milstead, proud.”

Mr. Ducey has appointed Lt. Col. Heston Silbert as Mr. Milstead's replacement, effective April 4.

“Heston Silbert is one of the most talented law enforcement professionals I’ve had the opportunity to meet,” Mr. Ducey stated. “His commitment to the state spans beyond his courageous protection of public safety, with an innovative approach to management, accountability and courteous vigilance that has helped transform an agency and strengthen the culture and respect for our brave state troopers.”

Before his role with DPS, Mr. Milstead served five years with the Mesa Police Department and 25 years with the Phoenix Police Department. In Mesa, Mr. Milstead served as police chief, placing emphasis on street-level crime-fighting, community partnership, transparency and economic efficiency, including through the use of innovative technology, according to a release.

In Phoenix, Mr. Milstead served in various command positions in the Homeland Defense Bureau, Major Offender Bureau, and the Traffic Bureau.

Multiple reports have Mr. Milstead pegged to take another law enforcement position outside of Arizona.

“For the last 35 years, I’ve had the honor of working with Arizona’s finest women and men in uniform, and because of that I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in public service,” Mr. Milstead stated. “I’m grateful to Governor Ducey for the honor and privilege to serve as DPS director, and I’m thrilled that my friend and colleague, Heston Silbert, will have the opportunity to lead this fine agency.”

Mr. Silbert has served in Arizona law enforcement for over 31 years, with 10 years in command-level law enforcement leadership roles. He began his law enforcement career with the Phoenix Police Department in 1989. Over the years, Mr. Silbert rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Assistant Chief of Police and Executive Officer in Mesa, and Deputy Director of DPS. Mr. Silbert holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in education from Ottawa University and holds a Masters of Public Administration from Arizona State University.

“For the last 31 years, it has been my honor to serve the citizens of the State of Arizona and work with the most remarkable people in United States law enforcement,” Mr. Silbert stated. “It is my goal to continue to lead and work with the exceptional people at the Arizona Department of Public Safety as we collectively strive to provide the most exemplary law enforcement services to all those who live in or visit our state.”

Since 2015, Mr. Milstead and Mr. Silbert have engaged in broad-sweeping agency transformation efforts throughout DPS to increase accountability in training and development, trooper relations, public affairs, internal and external communications, efficient financial management and courteous professionalism, according to the release.

As part of their efforts, Mr. Silbert leads a 28-day review system that audits every facet of every department on a monthly basis. Successes realized through their efforts, according to the release, include:

  • Reducing “use of force” incidents, while arrests have increased, through the implementation of courteous professionalism standards
  • Eliminating court delays caused by late reports filed by the Department by establishing efficient operating principals.
  • Eliminating the Concealed Weapons Permit Backlog of over 15,000 applications through lean management principals and reducing processing time from 52 days in 2018 to 3 days in 2019. 
  • Improving school bus driver certification processing, thereby reducing the application processing time from an average of 45 days in 2015 to one day in 2018. 
  • Eradicating a significant crime lab backlog of over 10,000 cases.
  • Decreasing the time needed to clear traffic collisions from 23 to 13 minutes. 
  • Implementing strategic recruitment strategies, resulting in hiring diversity increasing from 22% to 44% in new recruit classes.

In 2015, the two led development and operations of Mr. Ducey’s Arizona Border Strike Force ⁠— a collaborative effort between local, state, tribal and federal authorities to target border-related crimes.