Nogales Police Department Chief of Police
Derek K. Arnson
Chief Derek K. Arnson was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Nogales in November 2012 after competing in a nationwide search process. Heis a native of Arizona and holds a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. He is a recent graduate from the United States Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA receiving a Masters degree in Security Studies/Homeland Security. He is a graduate of the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. He is fluent in Spanish.
Chief Arnson has over 20 years of varied and specialized law enforcement experience with over 13 years of supervisory, command and executive leadership responsibilities. He has served as a member of the Arizona Department of Public Safety as a Highway Patrol Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Canine Sergeant, Gang Sergeant, Internal Affairs Sergeant, and Recruiting Sergeant. In addition, he was selected to serve as a body guard to former Governor’s Fife Symington and Jane Hull based upon his professionalism, physical and tactical abilities. After leaving DPS, he accepted command positions with the Buckeye and Hayden Police Departments and as Chief of Police for the Gila River Police Department