Glendale police to equip patrol cars with moving radar systems

GLENDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — The city of Glendale announced on Monday the police department will soon be installing moving radar systems to all its patrol vehicles.

The systems will be mounted on the front and back of the cars and allow the officers to check drivers’ speeds regardless of where they are compared to the patrol car. The Glendale City Council approved $600,000 for the new technology.

Glendale Police Cmdr. Jay O’Neill said moving radar systems completely change the game. “It allows the officers to see the speed of vehicles that are coming up behind them and then also to see the speed of vehicles that are approaching in an opposite direction,” he said.

This new technology allows officers to track drivers speeding while they are also moving, as opposed to staying stationary. “Our goal in traffic enforcement is to change driving behavior. So, not every time we make a stop, do we issue a citation. Sometimes it’s educational. But a lot of times it’s that hit to the pocketbook that’s really going to impact driving behavior,” he said.

According to city officials, crashes involving speeding drivers and pedestrians in 2025 have already exceeded the totals from the past two years.

“The most dangerous thing we do every day is get in our car and drive somewhere,” Vice Mayor Lauren Tolmachoff said in a written statement. “I’m thrilled this council sees this action as an important investment to help keep our residents and communities safe. People should know that Glendale is not the place to speed.”

The number of crashes involving speeders that caused serious injuries has steadily increased, with more than 100 reported in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, Glendale had one of the highest total of deadly crashes in the Valley, with more than 40.

“The speed-related fatalities and crashes in Glendale are simply unacceptable, and equipping our department with this tool is a major step forward in enforcement,” Interim Police Chief Colby Brandt said in a written statement. “Combined with education and community engagement, the city is sending a clear message that speeding is a choice that will not be tolerated in Glendale.”

All 150 police vehicles are expected to be equipped with the radar system by the end of this summer. City officials said the money is a budgeted item in the budget, not a grant.

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