JJ Martinez is running for Phoenix City Council in District 5. (Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore)
- Candidate name: Jesse (“JJ”) Martinez
- Political affiliation: Nonpartisan
- Position sought: Phoenix City Council (District 5)
- Age: 51
- Career: Former Phoenix police officer, currently a K-9 handler at HonorHealth
In the eyes of Jesse, “JJ,” Martinez, deep roots in the Valley and a 30-year career in Phoenix law enforcement make him an ideal candidate for Phoenix City Council.
Martinez is a non-partisan candidate running in District 5 against incumbent Betty Guardado, who has held the position since being elected in 2019.
Martinez is a native of District 5, having spent his entire childhood in the area. He graduated from Maryvale High School in 1990.
Martinez’s career in the Phoenix Police Department began in 1994, after which he served 26 years as an active duty officer and four years as a reserve officer. Martinez held a variety of positions, including patrol officer, motor officer, first responder, detective and school resource officer.
The Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association endorse Martinez.
“We are not endorsing Jesse simply because he’s a former Phoenix police officer. We’re endorsing him because we believe he has the right values,” said Ben Leuschner, the association’s president. “Jesse really likes to help people. He’s a down-to-earth, regular guy. He’s not a career politician. He’s just a cop who worked the street with regular blue-collar people.”
Sara Fierro, a parent whose child attended Washington Elementary School while Martinez was a school resource officer, saw Martinez as a positive asset to the school.
“JJ is somebody who cares a lot about the community and is trying to make it a better and safer place. The students, in general, were comfortable with him and the parents knew our kids were in good hands,” Fierro said.
Martinez retired from the police force in 2020 and now works as a K-9 handler for HonorHealth.
Top campaign priorities
Martinez’s campaign materials list main priorities including addressing homelessness and the opioid epidemic, improving economic development and lowering crime.
Homelessness and the opioid epidemic
Martinez sees individuals experiencing homelessness and the opioid epidemic as interconnected.
“What we’re dealing with right now – the increase in homelessness – that’s the opioid epidemic that’s embedded itself amongst the homeless,” Martinez said.
He has plans to address homelessness and help those experiencing drug addiction.
“I think we should offer addicts services to clean up, and for those who say they’re ready to clean up, we should remove them from their environment and get them into transitional housing while they’re getting off their addiction,” Martinez said. “We should get them skills so they can be productive members of society.”
Economic development and crime
Martinez sees high crime as a deterrent for new businesses in District 5.
“We have to address crime to bring good economic development,” Martinez said. “That’s happening in Glendale, that’s happening in Avondale, it’s just not happening in Phoenix.”
He said he witnesses his community’s desire to live healthier lives, therefore he would like to bring a Whole Foods store or ProteinHouse to District 5.
“We have a couple of gyms nearby, so people are trying to lead healthier lifestyles,” Martinez said. “I would approach those businesses and ask them how we can get them to set up shop in this area because I think they would thrive.”
Martinez has hopes to bring prosperous businesses to the 27th Avenue corridor but said crime must be fought.
“I would love to see the 27th Avenue corridor around Grand Canyon University be like another Mill Avenue with its restaurants and bars. It has that potential, but when you go there at night you see prostitutes walking up and down the street. That stuff needs to be addressed,” he said.
Connecting with the Latino community
Martinez’s campaign slogan is “Unidos Podemos,” meaning “United we can.”
For him, this means all community growth is a collaborative effort.
“Unidos Podemos is about the community coming together to solve issues. Everyone has a role to play. It’s not, ‘Yo puedo (I can),’” Martinez said.
As a Latino and Spanish speaker, Martinez said he hopes to further connect with the Latino community if elected to the council.
“I plan to have an open door policy, meaning attending Latino community events, answering their questions and concerns, and making it clear that the Phoenix Police Department isn’t here to deport anyone. That’s not our job,” Martinez said.
Phoenix Police Department reform
On August 5, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice began a 34-month-long Civil Pattern or Practice inquiry into the Phoenix Police Police Department.
On June 13, the DOJ published its findings in a report that states it found evidence of the Phoenix Police Department committing civil rights abuses and using excessive force. The report specifically cites that the department, at the time the investigation was conducted, “uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force and other types of force,” and “discriminates against Black, Hispanic, and Native American people when enforcing the law,” among other findings.
Martinez stated the DOJ’s findings are not reflective of his experience working for the Phoenix Police Department.
“I think what’s been in that DOJ report doesn’t correctly reflect what we’ve been doing,” he said. “When this report came out, initially, I was like, what they’re describing isn’t the agency that I worked for. I never saw that. A lot of the stuff that was on that initial DOJ report, I was like, can I see these cases?”
Yet, Martinez said the department still has room for improvement.
“The Police Department here is never going to be perfect, but it’s not going to stop us from trying. We’re always proactive. We self-assess. We have debriefs,” he added.
Martinez’s campaign website says he is in favor of “increasing the number of police body cameras, enhancing accountability and transparency within the police force, ensuring financial transparency, and maintaining constant communication.”
Based on recommendations from the DOJ, the City Council met on Sept. 24 to discuss police reform plans.
During the meeting, Interim Director of the Office of Accountability and Transparency Shannon Johanni presented updates on the office’s Civilian Review Board, which was established by the council on May 15 to provide independent civilian oversight of the police.
Johanni explained one training topic for the Civilian Review Board is the Phoenix Police Department’s complaint, misconduct and use-of-force processes and procedures.
Martinez said he hopes those on the Civilian Review Board can gain firsthand knowledge of police practices before making decisions.
“One thing I would like to see for the Civilian Review Board is for them to go through the Citizen Police Academy so they can see the tactics we do, the training we do, and have an idea of what we are supposed to do,” he said.
Following the presentations, members of the council unanimously directed staff to implement recommendations in a memorandum authored by Mayor Kate Gallego, Council member Kevin Robinson and Council member Kesha Hodge Washington about police reform.
The memo’s recommendations highlight enhancements to “documenting police activity, improving the police department’s investigative and evaluative process, considering and analyzing citizen-initiated complains, adopting the highest standards of professional accountability, expanding the use of body-worn cameras, fully staffing the City’s Dispatcher Team and updating policies for appropriately interacting with young and vulnerable populations.”
With regard to the memo, Martinez said he sees validity to the council’s decision.
“I respect the council’s decision. I’m looking forward to seeing how this continues forward,” Martinez said. “I’m a fan of the body cam footage. It’s nothing that I’m afraid of and it gives people a lens to see what we deal with every day.”
