On a hot July morning in 1991, a young recruit stood on the parade deck at the police academy, full of anticipation for what the future might hold.

Thirty-five years later, that recruit is Police Chief Joseph R. LeDuc, leading one of Arizona’s largest municipal police departments and helping shape the future of public safety in Scottsdale.

“I remember standing on the parade deck of the Phoenix Regional Police Academy on a hot July morning in 1991, excited about what was ahead. It still feels like yesterday,” LeDuc said. “I continue to enjoy serving the most amazing men and women in law enforcement and the best community in the nation. We have something special here.”

For LeDuc, what makes Scottsdale special is not just the city itself. It is the people who serve it and the culture of leadership that has shaped his entire career with the Scottsdale Police Department.

He joined the department as a police officer in 1991 and, over the next three decades, worked nearly every major area of the organization, including patrol, investigations, homicide, special victims, internal affairs, special investigations, district command and executive leadership.

That broad experience was intentional.

Scottsdale has long focused on developing leaders from within and preparing employees for the next step well before it is needed. LeDuc’s appointment as police chief reflects a formal succession plan created by former Chief Jeff Walther, who later concluded nearly three decades with the department before being promoted to assistant city manager.

The approach helped preserve institutional knowledge, ensure continuity and create a seamless leadership transition during a period of rapid change in policing.

“Succession planning is about much more than filling a position,” LeDuc said. “It is about preparing people to lead, building trust across the organization and making sure the culture continues.”

That culture has been tested and strengthened through a profession that looks very different today than it did when LeDuc first put on a badge.

Technology, investigative tools, community expectations and the pace of information sharing have all transformed modern policing. LeDuc believes adaptability is now one of the most important leadership skills.

“It is critical to have a strategic mindset and to embrace the speed of technology and change,” he said. “If you want to remain effective and relevant in this profession, you must commit to being a lifelong learner.”

Those values have guided the department through years of operational change, community engagement efforts and evolving public safety challenges.

Under LeDuc’s leadership, Scottsdale continues to report strong public safety outcomes. In 2025, the city ranked among the top five percent safest cities in the nation for communities with populations over 100,000. The department also recorded double digit reductions in major crime and maintained a 100 percent homicide clearance rate over the past five years.

For LeDuc, however, the most meaningful measure of success is the people who do the work every day.

He currently leads more than 700 employees serving nearly 250,000 residents across 184 square miles. His leadership philosophy centers on employee development, community connection, innovation and wellness.

That people-first approach was recognized in 2025, when LeDuc received the City of Scottsdale’s Herb Drinkwater Award. The award honors individuals who demonstrate fearless leadership, integrity and selfless service in the spirit of former Mayor Herbert R. Drinkwater.

For LeDuc, the recognition reflects the organization he represents more than his own career.

“I am proud of the people I get to work with and the community we serve,” he said. “We have something special here, and I want to make sure we protect it and continue to move the city in the right direction.”