Assistant Chief Colby Brandt joined the Glendale Police Department in 1997. Before being promoted to Assistant Chief of Police, Chief Brandt served as the Administrative Services Commander, overseeing training, personnel management, grants, budget, audits and inspections, and planning and research. He has served as a Patrol Officer, Property Crimes Detective, Auto Theft Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Neighborhood Response Squad Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, General Investigations Lieutenant and Gateway Patrol Commander.

Chief Brandt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from Ottawa University and graduated with a Master of Science in Homeland Security from CalU. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (FBINA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Drug Unit Commanders Academy and the AZPOST Arizona Leadership Program (ALP).

Prior to joining the Glendale Police Department, Chief Brandt served as a United States Marine. He has been married for 25 years and has two children; a son and a daughter.

Assistant Chief Brad Harkleroad began his career with the Glendale Police Department in 1996.  Prior to being promoted to Assistant Chief of Police, Chief Harkleroad had served as the Commander over the Administrative Services Division, the Gateway Patrol Division, as well as the Special Operations Division. 

During his early career, Chief Harkleroad worked as a Patrol Officer, a Neighborhood Response Unit Officer and Patrol and Administrative Sergeant before being promoted to Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant, he served as a Patrol Shift Lieutenant then he was placed in charge of the Special Investigations Unit, which included Narcotics, Fugitive Apprehension, the Repeat Offender Program and the Street Crimes and Auto Theft Unit. His next assignment was as the Emergency Response Unit Lieutenant and he also served as the SWAT Team Commander and oversaw the Bomb Unit, the K-9 Unit, the Threat Assessment Team and Security Services.  
 
Assistant Chief Harkleroad has a Master of Arts in Education from Northern Arizona University, a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from Ottawa University and graduated from the 258th session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (FBINA) in 2014.

Chief Harkleroad has been married for more than 26 years and has a son, two daughters and one granddaughter.  

Assistant Police Director Brent Ackzen originally joined the Glendale Police Department in 1975 as a civilian within the Communications Center and has worked within several units within the department to include Records, Identification and Detention. When he became a manager, he oversaw the operation of the Records Division, Detention and Communications. As a commander, he managed the Technical Services Bureau, Support Services Bureau, and Investigations Bureau, which included Records, Detention, Communications, DARE/GREAT operations, School Resource Officers, Identification, Property/Evidence, Fleet Management, Traffic Services, Information Systems and General and Special Investigations.

In May 2005, Brent was promoted to Assistant Director and managed the Administration Bureau, Investigations Bureau and Support Services Bureau. In 2008, Brent retired but returned in 2017 and currently holds the position of Assistant Police Director and has responsibility over Support Services which includes Communications, Detention, Fleet, Security Services, Property/Evidence, Records and Technology. Brent serves as a projects coordinator for technology enhancements from Computer Aided Dispatch System, Police Records Management System, as well as computers and tablets in the police vehicles.

Significant Accomplishments:

Assistant Police Director Ackzen has received the International Danny E. Smith Award for Dedication, Vision and Leadership in Public Safety and the American Society for Public Administration Superior Service Award. He also completed the Senior Management Institute for Police Training in Boston and the Southern Police Institute Master Program at the University of Louisville.

Brandon Blanco is currently a Commander overseeing the Criminal Investigations Division of the Police Department.  Brandon grew up in Chandler and eventually moved to San Diego and graduated from Mira Mesa High School.  Brandon has been with the Glendale Police Department since February 1996.  

During Brandon’s career with Glendale Police Department he has held several assignments:  Field Training Officer, Recruit Training Officer, Gang Detective, Narcotics Detective, Auto Theft Sergeant, Fraud Forgery Sergeant, Street Crimes Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, Special Events Planning Lieutenant and Patrol Division Commander.  

Brandon earned a Bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies from Arizona State University.  He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy session 275.  Brandon is married to a Glendale Detective and has 3 daughters.

Commander Ernie Ochoa joined the Glendale Police Department in 1999. Commander Ochoa was the General Investigations Lieutenant before being promoted to the rank of Commander. He has also served as a Patrol Officer, Selective Enforcement Detective, Narcotics Detective, K-9 Handler, Community Engagement Team Sergeant, K-9 Unit Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant and Foothills Sector Lieutenant.

Ernie grew up in Glendale where he attended school and played sports and graduated from Independence High School. Prior to joining the Police Department, Ernie was a Utility Worker for the City of Glendale’s Utilities Division for five years. Ernie is also a veteran of the United States Air Force and earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Wayland Baptist University.

Ernie is married to a Glendale Police Sergeant and is the father to two sons and a daughter.

Commander Jay O’Neill joined the Glendale Police Department in 2005 after more than 7 years as an officer and 1 ½ as a dispatcher in California. Before being promoted to Commander, Jay served as a Patrol Lieutenant and was also assigned to the Public Information Office. Jay has served as a Patrol Officer, Neighborhood Response Squad Officer, Motorcycle Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Public Information Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, and General Investigations Lieutenant. Jay is also a Past-President of the Glendale Law Enforcement Association.

Jay earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from San Diego State University and a Master of Administration with a Leadership emphasis from Northern Arizona University and is a graduate of the 284th session of the FBI National Academy.

Jay is a former United States Marine, is lucky enough to be married to his best-friend Melissa and is the proud father of 4 daughters.

Commander Nick Susuras joined the Glendale Police Department in 1994. Nick has served as a Gang Detective with the State Gang Task Force (GITEM), Glendale Gang Detective, and Task Force Officer assigned to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Nick was promoted to Sergeant in 2006 where he served in Patrol and the Professional Standards Unit. In 2010, Nick was promoted to Lieutenant and served as the Gateway Sector Lieutenant, and most recently served as the General Investigations Lieutenant before being promoted to the rank of Commander.

Nick completed a Master of Arts in Public Administration in 2011, and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration in 2009. He is also a 2010 graduate of the POST Arizona Leadership in Public Safety Organizations Program (LPO).

Nick has been married for 24 years and has two children.

Commander Ryan Horrall began his law enforcement career with the Glendale Police Department in 1992. Ryan had the opportunity to serve as a volunteer as well as a Communications Specialist before entering the police academy in 1994. Since then, Ryan served as an officer in Patrol, Vehicular Crimes, Motors, and General Investigations. Ryan was promoted to Sergeant in 2005 where he served in Patrol, Judicial Enforcement and Motors. In 2019, Ryan was promoted to the Lieutenant, serving in Patrol and as the Foothills Sector Lieutenant before being promoted to the rank of Commander in 2021.

Ryan is an Arizona native and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from Northern Arizona University. Ryan recently attended the AzPOST Executive Leadership Program. Ryan is a proud Deer Valley High School Graduate and lucky to serve in the community that raised him.

Ryan is married and the proud dad of five amazing daughters.