Retired Employees

from 2021 Flagstaff Police Department Annual Report

by Jbrown22599

Special Services

Page 84

Deputy Chief Walt Miller

January 6, 1997 to January 22, 2021

Walt was born and raised in Flagstaff, graduating from Flagstaff High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in special education from Northern Arizona University. Prior to a career in law enforcement, he accepted teaching position at Coconino High School teaching in their Special Education Department for 4 ½ years.

In January of 1997 Walt joined the Flagstaff Police Department. Walt has worked many various leadership positions through his years of service at the Police Department. These include Patrol Corporal, Criminal Investigator, Patrol Sergeant, SWAT Team leader, Professional Standards Sergeant and Patrol Lieutenant, prior to being promoted to Deputy Chief in 2012

During his career Walt has been named the officer of the year by the Masonic Lodge and Exchange Club. He has also been awarded the 7K Award for excellence in customer service, received the Departments Meritorious Service Award and the City Managers Excellence Award for Professionalism. Walt is one of the hardest working and honest people we have ever had the pleasure of working with and we wish him the best in retirement.

Page 85

Corporal Trevor Cooper

February 3, 2002 to February 18, 2021

Trevor Cooper began his law enforcement career in 2002 when he was sent to the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy in Phoenix. While at the academy, Trevor was recognized as his class “Top Marksman”, receiving this honor for firearm’s marksmanship and proficiency. During his career at the Police Department, Trevor split his career between patrol and the Community Relations Office. In 2017, Trevor was promoted to the rank of Corporal and continued his service in the patrol division.

Trevor excelled during his time in the Community Relations Office working with the youth as a DARE and GREAT officer and then as our Department’s School Resource Officer. He mentored and worked with students while promoting drug and alcohol resistance education to the youth in the community. In addition to his work as a School Resource Officer and Patrol Corporal, Trevor is certified as a Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, Patrol Rifle Instructor, Master Firearms Instructor, and Firearms Armorer. Trevor’s file is full of “thank you” letters along with numerous accolades for his service to our schools and the community. Most notably, Trevor is a recipient of the Flagstaff Police Department’s prestigious honor, the Medal of Courage.

Outside of police work, Trevor is an active member of our armed forces, where he is a pilot and holds the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2. “Thank You” Trevor for your service to the community and “Congratulations” on your retirement. We wish you all the best in your next chapter of life.

Page 86

Detective Casey Rucker

May 6, 2001 to May 21, 2021

Casey was hired By the Flagstaff Police Department in 2001 and attended the ALEA academy in Phoenix. He was assigned to patrol after field training, and immediately began to make his mark at the department. With several commendations, he was known for his teamwork and knowledge of his beat areas as well as his compassion for the Flagstaff Community. In 2003, Casey earned the Flagstaff Police Department Medal of Valor for jumping into a burning Motor home and driving it away from the fuel pumps at a local service station. Throughout his career, he caught many bad men, rapists, burglars, murderers, and the dregs of society, and he did it all with a smile and respect for everyone.

After patrol, Casey earned a spot on the Metro Narcotics Task Force. He was then promoted to Corporal in 2005. Corporal Rucker became Detective Rucker when he was “voluntold” to report upstairs to the Criminal Investigations Division in 2006. Someone must have known where he would make the greatest impact because even when he tried to leave Detectives to follow his favorite Sergeant, Chief Cooper denied that transfer. After 16 years in Criminal Investigations, Det. Rucker is retiring as the longest tenured Detective at our department in a generation. His file is full of commendations and awards for his dedication to the people of Flagstaff as well his teamwork within the division. Casey received the Fraternal Order of Police Officer of the year award in 2010. He also earned the Veteran of Foreign Wars Officer of the year award in 2015 for his dedicated work in several high profile cases. He earned the Victim Witness Heart of Gold award in 2016 and 2017 for his outstanding work and dedication to victims of crime in Flagstaff. He received the City Manager’s award for excellence twice as well for teamwork on high profile cases. He travelled to New York to follow up on a “swatting” case that had terrorized our local schools. He closed the case with an arrest that the FBI Director said would never happen. Casey took pride that if someone in our community was victimized, he would go the extra mile for the victim and close the case with an arrest.

There is a good chance if the case was a Homicide or Officer Involved Shooting in the last 16 years Casey had a hand in the investigation.

Casey served on the SWAT team for 16 years with distinction responding to the most dangerous and volatile calls that Flagstaff and Coconino County had to offer. Casey also served on the Flagstaff Police Department Honor Guard for five years providing exemplary service during his time on the team.

Page 87

Deputy Chief Frank Higgins

September 25, 1989 to September 24, 2021

Frank Higgins was hired by the Flagstaff Police Department in September of 1989, after serving two enlistments in the US Marine Corps. Frank attended the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy (ALEA) in Tucson Arizona. Highlights of his career include doing a motor escort for Presidents Clinton and V P Gore at the Grand Canyon, Swimming out onto the flooded continental golf course to rescue two kids who were in a boat that capsized during freezing temperatures, the capture of Eric Clark, who murdered Officer Jeff Moritz.

His 32 years of service include assignments working as a Patrol Lieutenant, Patrol Sergeant, Detective, motor officer, tactical driving instructor, UAS/drone pilot, and certified forensic computer examiner. He has also served with the Emergency Service Response Teams as a SWAT operator, sniper, and as a bomb technician on the regional bomb squad. During his career he has been awarded the City Managers Award for Employee Excellence, the Lifesaving Medal, Officer of the Year (outside organization), and has over 40 commendations and thank you cards in his file.

Frank Retires with 32 years of dedicated service. His sarcastic sense of humor will be missed by those who have worked with him. Frank retires as the most senior current employee and the Deputy Chief over support services.