Chief Ron Burns is the Faculty Chair for the Law Enforcement Technology program at Rio Salado College. Prior to joining the college he served three separate communities as the Chief of Police and had a police career that spanned 35 years. He began his police career in 1972 as a police officer with the Tempe Police Department and served in all areas of the department, working through the ranks to the position of Assistant Chief. He became the Chief of Police in Kirkland Washington in 1993, where he facilitated an open, collaborative and problem solving operating philosophy. He returned to Tempe as the Police Chief and worked with the community and other agencies to develop partnerships and a focused effort for public safety. Ron served as Tempe’s Police Chief for over five years and in 2001 became the Chief of Police in Lakewood Colorado, a department known for high standards and progressive practices. In total, Ron served 13 years as a Police Chief. During his career, his leadership developed continuous improvements, innovative problem solving approaches, and partnerships with the community and other agencies.

Ron also served the public safety community as the Executive Director of the 100 Club of Arizona, a non profit organization dedicated to providing support to the families of police, fire and corrections during times of tragedy. Ron increased the capacity of the organization through public-private partnerships, marketing and fund raising efforts to provide increased benefits when an officer or firefighter is killed or injured in the line of duty.

Chief Burns received a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Northern Arizona University. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute Long Course in Police Administration with an emphasis in management. Chief Burns is a life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is a member of the Police Executive Research Forum. He has served as the Chairman of the Colorado Victims Assistance and Coordinating Committee, the Jefferson County Criminal Justice Planning Committee and the Arizona and Colorado Community Policing Institute. He has consulted for the National Institute of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the National Crime Prevention Council. Ron has developed curriculum and has instructed for the Leadership Development Program at Arizona State University, the School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University and the Institute of Police Technology and Management at the University of North Florida. Chief Burns was inducted in Lakewood Police Department Hall of Fame in 2008.

Chief Burns is an active community member. He has served as President of the Tempe Governors, and served as a board member of the Tempe Community Council, Tempe Leadership, and the Tempe and Jefferson County Schools Strategic Planning Committees.

Chief Burns looks forward to assisting students with continuous learning and educational programs for members of the public safety community and those who are interested in learning more about the profession.