Phoenix Public Safety & Justice Subcommittee Meeting - November 5, 2025

The Phoenix Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee convened on November 5, 2025, to approve September meeting minutes, interview seven candidates for three vacant Municipal Court judge positions, and receive a report on the Phoenix Fire Department's staffing and TPT tax plan. Following a unanimous vote on the consent calendar and a public comment period supporting judicial candidate Shannon Peters, the Subcommittee deliberated in executive session. The body concluded by recommending two appointments to the full City Council while identifying a vacancy for future filling, and received a detailed update on fire department resource expansion and response time improvements.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved the meeting minutes from September 3, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Martinez (Defense Attorney): Expressed full support for judicial candidate Neha Bhatia, describing her as knowledgeable, fair, and willing to consider mitigating factors.
• Ed Leiter (Division Chief): Stated strong support for Neha Bhatia, citing her deep understanding of mental health in threat assessment cases and her discretion in deciding not to charge when diversion is appropriate.
• Tyler Allen (Employer of Shannon Peters): Expressed full support for candidate Shannon Peters, emphasizing her intelligence, ability to tell an employer "no" when necessary, dedication to hearing every client, and rigorous attention to file details.
• David Allen (Mesa City Judge, recused from Peters' cases): Expressed strong support for Shannon Peters, highlighting her professionalism, ethical conduct when evidence is lacking, and respectful treatment of all parties in court.
• Speaker identified as Federal Law Enforcement Executive: Expressed support for Shannon Peters, praising her impartiality, integrity, and commitment to equal representation before the law.

Discussion Items

Judicial Appointments

• Process Overview: The Subcommittee interviewed seven candidates for three vacant seats on the Phoenix Municipal Court. Candidates were sequestered during other interviews. Questions focused on sentencing repeat offenders, difficult case types, addressing systemic inequities, and ethical dilemmas.
• Candidate Positions and Strategies:
  • Neha Bhatia: Expressed a position focused on holistic sentencing that considers background causes of recidivism while balancing community safety. She stated difficult cases involve domestic violence due to victim reluctance and cases involving mental illness. She argued the judge must be a role model for diversity to help individuals feel heard.
  • Pamela Dune: Stated her approach to sentencing is guided by plea agreements, sentencing guidelines, and victim input, weighing mitigation and aggravation. She identified removing life support from a 14-year-old as a difficult case. She affirmed the judge's role in addressing inequities by waiving fees for unhoused residents and providing reasonable accommodations for self-represented litigants.
  • Brett Hutchinson: Expressed a position holding repeat offenders accountable and ensuring community safety, noting concerns about releases occurring too quickly after arrest. He identified large apartment complex citations as difficult cases requiring community resolution. He opposed the "trial tax" phenomenon, specifically citing a case where a pretrial offer of seven years resulted in a 20-year sentence, labeling it unfair.
  • Christine Mulano: Stated her approach depends on individual circumstances and recency of offenses. She identified cases involving children, mental illness, and addiction as difficult due to the delicate balance of fairness and accountability. She advocated for judges to be the "face of justice," using plain language and community outreach to address inequities. She supported dismissing cases she deemed ethically insufficient, such as one where the alleged victim instigated the altercation.
  • Dane Paulson: Expressed a position balancing rehabilitation with the community's interest, emphasizing public safety as a primary responsibility of the court. He identified domestic violence cases as the most difficult due to evidentiary challenges and emotional toll. He affirmed the judge's role in tempering biases and treating all with dignity.
  • Shannon Peters: Stated she would use a holistic approach, examining rehabilitation participation (e.g., treatment courts) to determine if jail is appropriate. She identified child abuse/neglect cases as the most difficult given her personal experience as a foster parent, though she promised to set aside personal feelings. She advocated using tools like CAP programs to address financial inequities.

Fire Department Staffing and TPT Plan

• Funding and Capacity: Executive Assistant Fire Chief Tim Christ presented a report on the 2.8% Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) approved by the Council. The $25 million allocation funds 134 new sworn positions and 19 civilian staff.
• New Resources:
  • Active Units: Battalion 8, Rescue 12, and Ladder 10 have been commissioned. Station 15 resources (Engine and Rescue companies) are planned for doubling upon station construction completion.
  • Upcoming Units: Medical Response Units 1-4, Engine 71, Rescue 71, Engine 93, and Rescue 93 are funded and in the process of staffing.
  • New Stations: Construction is underway for Station 71 (District 2) and Station 93 (District 1). Station 74 is anticipated to open by the end of 2025.
• Recruitment: Assistant Fire Chief Rita Riddle Bigler reported the department is hiring 65 new recruits starting in February 2026. They transitioned to online testing, resulting in a 5% increase in test-takers and applicants from 24 states.
• Response Times Data (Jan-Sept 2025): Citywide critical EMS response is 7 minutes 16 seconds (NFPA standard is 5 minutes). Engine response is 5 minutes 48 seconds. Ladder response is 10 minutes 11 seconds. The report noted that opening Station 62 improved local critical EMS response by 1 minute 38 seconds and ambulance response by 4 minutes 50 seconds in its service area. Rescue 12 has improved ambulance response by 3 minutes 7 seconds in its area.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous Approval: September 3, 2025, meeting minutes approved.
• Judicial Appointments:
  • Motion to recommend Brett Hutchinson for a four-year term passed unanimously on aye vote.
  • Motion to recommend Christine Mulano for a four-year term (expiring November 19, 2029) passed unanimously on aye vote.
  • Motion to complete the process for the third vacancy within 12 months passed unanimously.
• Next Steps:
  • Recommendations for Hutchinson and Mulano will be forwarded to the full City Council for final appointment.
  • Subcommittee requested a future presentation on the Phoenix Police Department's "Heat Squad."
• Meeting Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 11:50.