Debby was appointed as the Police Chief for the City of Prescott in July 2016. Previously, she served the City of Glendale for nearly 10 years—rising to Police Chief—and spent 25 years with the Phoenix Police Department, attaining the rank of Assistant Chief. Throughout her career, Chief Black has extensive experience in patrol, traffic, training, internal investigations, labor relations, public safety communications, tactical operations, community relations, and officer safety & wellness.
She earned a B.A. in Justice Studies (1986) and an M.P.A. (1991) from Arizona State University, plus a Certificate in Legal Studies from Phoenix College (2012). Chief Black completed Harvard’s Senior Executives in State & Local Government Program (2000) and IACP’s Leadership in Police Organizations Program (2009).
An Executive Fellow for the Police Foundation, she also serves as Vice Chair of the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy Users Group, sits on the Yavapai County Justice & Mental Health Coalition, and advises the Coalition of Compassion & Justice and the National Emergency Responders Assistance Program. A charter member of Prescott Area Women Who Care, she’s on the Board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona, and is a “Big in Blue” mentor through Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters. In 2008, she was honored as the YWCA’s Public Service Leader of the Year.
Chief Black and her husband Tim have been married for over 18 years; they have three children and one grandchild.
