Angels on Patrol (AoP) is a nonprofit community organization that allows officers to go above and beyond the call of duty by providing an immediate connection to resources for individuals in crisis.
The organization was founded in 2009 by Jacqui MacConnell, a retired Phoenix police lieutenant, after she rescued three children in an abuse case.
“We found the twins and they were 5 years old and they were living in cages since they were born. They spoke their own language and physically they were not in good health and they shared a room with their brother who was 3 years older than them,” MacConnell said.
Police officers often encounter situations where an arrest is not always needed and assistance with money or intervention would be more helpful. AoP ensures that this is possible without the officer reaching into their own pockets to help.
“I kept in touch with those kids over time…so a big part of Angels on Patrol when I started, it wasn’t necessarily just helping every request that came in, but I really wanted to help these boys,” MacConnell said.
In 2011, AoP gained its nonprofit status, which allowed for it to receive direct donations as an Arizona charitable institution.
These advancements led to an increase in requests throughout the years as AoP expanded and more officers became involved.
One of the biggest parts of the request process is that there is no “red tape.” The process for an officer submitting a request is designed to be easy.
AoP recognizes that emergencies don’t just happen during the work week, which is why the five step process ensures that officers have all-day support year-round for each unique case they run across.
“Requests for service are vetted and originate 100% from law enforcement officers — the only nonprofit that operates in this manner,” according to AoP’s website.
The first step in submitting a request is identifying the need. When an on-duty officer feels the need to provide more assistance than they can through the police department, they will complete an online request through AoP’s website.
The next steps are qualifying the request, approving the service request, providing assistance and then connecting the individual in need to resources.
Since its founding, AoP has helped more than 18,000 individuals.
When asked about how the name of the organization came to be, MacConnell said, “Officers are angels as they are on patrol. We step in as angels while we help these folks out.”
AoP is now in 13 police departments in Scottsdale, Buckeye, Apache Junction, Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Goodyear, Tempe, Mesa, Avondale, Paradise Valley, Surprise and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department.
The organization is governed by 11 members of a board of directors who volunteer their time, expertise and resources. The board oversees the organization’s policies and annual budget.
Melinda Cadena is AoP’s executive director.
“I’m proud that through Angels on Patrol, they’re able to receive direct support, and know that they are not alone, and have an agency to rely on,” said Cadena.
AoP implemented the “After Hours Program” in 2020, which allowed for a Visa card to be available for officers to use when they encounter a crisis situation that cannot wait until normal business hours.
In 2021 alone, 324 requests were submitted from on-duty law enforcement officers.
Some examples of requests AoP receives from police officers are in regards to domestic violence, securing safety, homeless and community connections, youth enrichment, food, clothing and basic needs – but the requests don’t stop there.
To ensure support for officers, donations and event attendance is crucial. Donations can be made through Paypal, Venmo, Square or check by mail.
“It is important to get the word out about our organization to reach officers who may not know we exist and to hopefully gain more donations for support,” said Cadena.
Upcoming community events include a night of giving back to thank community supporters and a golf tournament.
“I’m extremely proud and extremely humbled and I’m still very involved in AoP. Certain requests give me such a sense of satisfaction that we can be the resource that we are for officers,” said MacConnell.
Ultimately there are two distinct clients being helped through AoP: on-duty police officers who wish to do more and the individual the officer is assisting.
AoP’s website reads, “We not only help individuals in crisis find hope, we help officers feel like they’ve had the opportunity to successfully complete the call.”
Contact the reporter at almonto2@asu.edu.
