GOVERNMENT
Sources familiar with Melvin at SRPMIC PD said Melvin interviewed for the Phoenix job while he was on the clock at Salt River, leading to his forced resignation. Five months later, he accepted the role of police chief for the Port Arthur Police Department. The city sits about 80 miles east of Former Port Arthur City Manager Brian McDougal said Melvin stood out among five candidates in an “exhaustive” national search. Their previous police chief retired after 40 years with the department. “Everyone felt he was the right guy for the job,” McDougal said. “We had council interviews, city manager interviews, a community forum. He was a highly focused individual and steady.” But the honeymoon didn’t last. Melvin said he was hired to “change the culture,” correcting mismanagement, updating protocols and policies, and, in some cases, indicting officers for their misconduct. In the eyes of Frank Ramirez, who was promoted to deputy chief shortly after Melvin began working with the department, those squabbles came from Melvin’s campaign against “good old boy” culture in the department. Houston, Melvin’s birthplace. He made waves. At a cost “I still have friends there,” Ramirez said, noting he could not “get too much into it without selling out everyone in the department.” But Melvin “brought a professionalism the department wasn’t used to. He kept everybody accountable, and it was something they weren’t used to,” he said. Some of those issues were eliminating the option for unworked overtime pay, penalizing officers for working other jobs while clocked in, which was a tad ironic, and making deals with store owners to write parking tickets in exchange for free merchandise. Officers were put on administrative leave, faced disciplinary action and some even lost their jobs under Melvin’s leadership, according to Ramirez. “The agency wasn’t used to that kind of transparency, and as a result, a lot of people’s jobs were jeopardized because they were being exposed,” Melvin said. What resulted was turmoil between the Port Arthur Police Association, the city of Port Arthur and Melvin. PAPA eventually submitted a 42-page document to McDougal explaining its vote of no confidence in the chief, citing response mismanagement during
A community oversight committee ensures bond funds are used appropriately. State funding is insufficient for building new schools and doesn't cover indoor cafeterias, drywall, or teaching stations that include critical technology infrastructure like Wi-Fi and additional outlets.
PROP 488 2 NEW SCHOOLS NEW SCHOOL #1 • OPENS: JULY 2026
2 HIGH SCHOOL EXPANSIONS
He resigned from MCSO last year to begin campaigning for Pinal County sheriff. But the reputation he made for himself in Maricopa, Salt River and Port Arthur lingers. Many InMaricopa readers brought up these unhappy memories in response to a campaign ad for Melvin last month, along with other whispers. “We do not need an anti-Second Amendment, pro-covid lockdowns liberal in charge of our sheriff’s office,” said voter Todd Dalton. But despite the blemishes, Melvin said he’s still confident in his ability to lead the county. “I feel those experiences have made me stronger and I’ve had the opportunity to work with many agencies,” he said. “I’ll be able to take bits and pieces of those experiences to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and I think that’s a good thing.” Ramirez and McDougal both offered their blessings. “I absolutely think he’s fit to serve the role,” Ramirez said. “I think as we go on, everyone learns, and everyone grows. He’s a professional and I think he could do it for sure.” Added McDougal: “I think he’s ready to be a sheriff. He has his education and experience. You know, anybody can be a police officer, but only good officers define the badge. He’s one of those.” Above: Pinal County Sheriff candidate Patrick Melvin holds a photo of himself as a Phoenix Police Department motorcycle sergeant in 1996. Left: Melvin was chief of police in Port Arthur, Texas, for two years before he was forced to resign in 2018.
MHS WORKFORCE DEV. EXPANSION • OPENS: JULY 2027 • EXPANDS CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION • FUNDING: o $0 (STATE GRANT) o $20,475,000 (BOND) ADDITIONAL 9-12 CLASSROOM SPACE • OPENS: JULY 2028 • BUILDS ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM SPACE • FUNDING: o $41,731.250 (STATE GRANT) o $15,143,750 (BOND)
• ACCOMMODATES STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8
• FUNDING:
o $31,486,603 (STATE GRANT) o $12,498,248 (BOND) NEW SCHOOL #2 • OPENS: JULY 2028 • ACCOMMODATES STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8 • FUNDING: o $23,049,680 (STATE GRANT) o $20,935,170 (BOND)
Hurricane Harvey, increased litigation and staff turnover. Eventually, Melvin was forced to resign a third time in 2018. “I don’t think there was much validity to that vote,” McDougal said. “I think the labor union was quite upset with the city, and they took it out on him.” ‘He’s ready’ After that resignation, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office hired Melvin in late 2019 as division commander for the Sheriff’s Information Management Services. He was a finalist for police chief of Memphis, St. Louis and Seattle, among others.
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InMaricopa.com | October 2024
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