FLAGSTAFF, Ariz – The City of Flagstaff is excited to announce that Sean Connolly will be joining the City as Police Chief. He will start with the City in June.
Sean has served for over 30 years with the Phoenix Police Department and is currently the Operational Executive Assistant Police Chief for Phoenix PD. Prior to this role, he served as Assistant Police Chief, Police Commander, and Lieutenant for various divisions, bureaus and precincts within the Phoenix PD.
“As someone who was born in Flagstaff and who absolutely loves everything about what the city has to offer, it is with an abundance of gratitude, humility, and excitement that I look forward to serving as Police Chief,” said Sean. “The diversity of our community, combined with the skillsets and work ethics of all members of the Flagstaff Police Department and Team Flagstaff, will be the cornerstones of our success.”
City Manager Greg Clifton said “we had five excellent candidates for this very important position, including two highly qualified internal candidates. The review process included five separate panels, a community meet and greet, and considerable deliberation internally and externally. We are pleased with the outcome, and we enthusiastically welcome Sean Connolly to Team Flagstaff. Sean brings a wealth of experience, excellent dedication, community impact and broad vision. We are very fortunate.”
The City would like to honor Chief Dan Musselman, who has led the Flagstaff Police Department since 2020 and will be retiring in June, 2024. Senior Deputy City Manager Shannon Anderson shared that “we are grateful for the twenty-eight years of service Chief Musselman has dedicated to the law enforcement profession, Team Flagstaff, and our community. Under his leadership, the Flagstaff Police Department has reduced property and violent crime, added wellness and training for officers with the addition of the local police academy, and made significant strides in the implementation of an alternate response model.”
Sean holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Arizona. Sean is also a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Fundamentals of Governmental Leadership program and Georgetown University’s School Justice Partnerships program.
