The Phoenix Police Museum

We like museums and decided to visit the police museum in downtown Phoenix. There is no parking at the museum so you have to use public parking. If you use the garage just before the museum they will give you a bar code to save 50 percent off parking. They have a lot of memorabilia from the past and it is interesting to see how law enforcement has progressed. I did not realize the "Miranda" warning was based on a case here in Phoenix and they have a lot of information on the case. The museum is not very big but has a lot of material and the docent are great. I think it is worth a visit.

Free museum, plenty of exhbits and memorabilia about the phoenix police. We came before closing time, and they were nice enough to let us in to explore the museum. They also told us some information about each exhbit. Very nice, hidden away behind the old county courthouse.

Thank you Steve and Linda for everything! I work with Desert Winds Independent living and we brought our residents to the museum for a beautiful morning out. We learned so much about the Miranda case from Steve and Linda was phenomenal in answering any questions we had as well as helping with resources for more museums and experiences to take the residents too. This museum is absolutely beautiful and filled to the brim with fun facts, historical artifacts and incredible people who truly care. The room dedicated to fallen officers is my favorite, and though it was hard to see the face of a good friend on that wall, it’s beautiful to see his memory honored.

What a nice experience! I enjoyed all of the sections at this museum. Steve was so welcoming and inspirational. He’s a volunteer at the museum and has decades of service with the Phoenix Police Department. He definitely knows his history. I definitely recommend a visit!

Great museum! Encompasses the history of the Department, Arizona, and the world. Very friendly staff. A must see for the Miranda decision, and other famous cases.

One of a Kind – A Hidden Gem in Downtown Phoenix! The Phoenix Police Museum is truly one of a kind! This place exceeded all my expectations. It offers a fascinating and respectful look into the history, service, and evolution of law enforcement in Phoenix. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, covering everything from early law enforcement equipment and uniforms to real-life stories and interactive displays. One of the highlights was sitting in a restored police car and seeing a recreated 1880s jail cell — it really brings history to life. The museum is very family-friendly, and the volunteers (many of whom are retired officers) were incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, and happy to answer questions. Their personal stories added a deeper layer to the experience. Best of all, admission is free (donations welcome), making it an easy and rewarding stop if you’re visiting downtown. Whether you have an interest in law enforcement, history, or just want to do something unique, this museum is absolutely worth a visit. Highly recommended — a true gem that honors those who serve and protect. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Amazing! I brought my two year old daughter and 4 year old son. They were so happy about how interactive it was. They got to wear uniforms and ride in the car and motorcycle. The staff were incredible so kind and informative. I will 100 percent return ☺️

Nice small museum about the police force in Phoenix, from the 1800s to present day

Great place to visit in downtown Phoenix! Lots of history and information. Fun to tour with friends and family!

What a great museum I stumbled upon while walking around downtown Phoenix during a recent trip. I was greeted by two very nice volunteers who explained a little about the history of the museum and how it's laid out. It had some very cool memorabilia and exhibits to see. I am a crime junkie but I was amazed at all the stuff I learned that was new. I would highly recommend this stop to anyone in the area.

This museum is awesome and is a hidden gem in downtown Phoenix. It was kind of hard for me to find, but I will tell you that if you are going through court house security (like I did), then you are in the wrong place. It is on the back side and has its on stand alone entrance. And don't rely on the directions on Yelp. They will take you to a totally different part of the city. There is metered street parking and commercial parking lots within a reasonable walking distance. It is free to tour the museum, which is nice, and the staff was exceptionally nice and helpful. The museum is pack with history of the Phoenix Police Department. Who knew that Miranda Rights, were born in Phoenix. The museum features a section a the case that led to the Miranda Rights, many artifacts including an old police car, a rock used to imprison people, a finger printing display, a CSI display, a section about PPD's Special Assignments Unit (their version of SWAT) and and a helicopter. You will also find a section of the museum that memorializes officers and K-9s that were killed in the line of duty. They had a small gift shop in the front of the museum that sells shirts, magnets, toys and other merchandise. There is no pressure to buy, but I had to get something from the museum before I left because I enjoyed it so much. It is not a very large museum. I spent about an hour or so there. They have a couple of photo ops The museum is well organized and takes you from the creation of Phoenix as a city to today. This hidden gem is packed with artifacts and you will not leave there without learning something new. I highly recommend checking this place out. And did I mention that it is free? You can't get any better than that.

ABSOLUTE MUST! This is a wonderful place to learn about local Phoenix PD history that dates back years! The museum does a great job fitting as much history into a decent size place, hopefully able to expand in the near future! They also pay tribute to officers who've lost their lives in the line of duty as well as the 9-11 tragedy. The staff are also amazing people who are full of stories if you've got the time to spend with them :) Another thing most people might not know is that the museum is free because local police officers help fund the museum each month! Definitely must check out at least once!

I'm from East Phoenix Arizona and I read on the app myphx311 history of Arizona one word that stick out to me was salins like for roote I think read it last night and I'm a music kid and it reminds me of the singer Selena Quintanilla lol .and my mom is also from Phoenix Arizona we try going to the museum when I was 14 along with my older sister and younger sister we had very difficult driving thru the Arizona downtown so we end up going up to the firefighters museum but now that I'm 22 the way is to be less negative so I hope soon to give this a five star :)

Small museum with some key items from PPD history. Great volunteers. Laid out well and educational.

1/12/22 Quality/Quantity - What a great experience. Atmosphere - It was not easy to find a small door in the back of the Historic Phoenix City Hall building. As we finally got closer, we found some signs. Very small parking lot, maybe for employee parking? So, we paid for street parking. They also offer 50% off parking at the 305 Parking Garage on Jefferson; make sure you get your coupon before leaving. Good size, might seem small to some, but if you like to read about history, you can spend quite a bit of time here. Know your parking meter so you do not get a ticket. Approximately, they had 35 exhibits. Service - 6 stars for service. The retired volunteer police officer, Steve, gave us full attention. He answered all the questions we had and explained additional history as well as shared his experience serving. The other volunteer was giving a tour to another group of people. You can make an appointment for their tours on their website. Price - Free, please donate. Supported by the generous monthly payroll deduction of over 1,700 Police and City of Phoenix employees as well as donations from individuals and businesses. Owner Suggestion - FYI, the website link on your Yelp is NOT working. You might want to correct it to make it easier for people to find you.

A great place to see history of the Phoenix Police Department, the the volunteers that work there are amazing and very helpful. A great place to buy gifts.

A great little museum to take your kids to. We spent about an hour here and it was completely free. The staff was very friendly and they have a nice little selection of gifts to buy before you leave. We loved looking through patch collection and the history.

I found this great even though it was small. It was free and had a lot of interesting stuff. The staff was excellent.

Everything I planned on saying is mentioned in the other reviews. The museum is a significant reminder of the history of Phoenix, the foundation of the Phoenix Police Department, and overall history lesson of the origin, uniforms, weapons and vehicles used. I made a planned stop here after hearing they had reopened. I was greeted by a very kind man named Ken. He is an encyclopedia of information, and this comes from front line experience. He gave a guided tour and for every section that had a small description of the artifact, he added more information. Instead of a slice, we got the whole pizza. I highly recommend the museum. There's a lot to learn and the staff is kind. It doesn't take too much time to see it. I'd like to point out there's a beautiful memorial that has photos and short descriptions of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Canine Officers too. I looked at every photo, and read every description. I saw the same thing in every photo. I saw honor, sacrifice, and understanding. I saw courage, purpose, passion and a fearless brotherhood of protection, no matter the cost. I am humbled, honored, and thankful for these heroes, our modern day guardian Angels. Sad for their passing, thankful for their existence and selfless devotion to our city. Thank you to the Phoenix Police Department. From those who made the ultimate sacrifice, to those active duty and those retired.

This meuseum is really cool. Learned about the Miranda right. Lots of history. It's a lot smaller than we expected. Highly recommend everyone visit here when in town.

What a fantastic experience! The museum is on 100 Jefferson, for some reason Yelp takes you to an entirely different location when you request directions. We spoke with Jasmin and Walt, who were both incredible people. Walt was retired from Phoenix PD. The actual detective who arrested Miranda volunteers here on Monday's. This is the actual original police building, and the entrance is the very door Miranda walked through to be processed for his now renowned case. There is a lot of great artifacts and history here, including one of the original Phoenix police helicopters. There's a room dedicated to the fallen, including canines. Real good people here and interesting history. I highly suggest stopping by and talking with them and buying something from their small shop. The admission is free.

Great historical pieces from the first western jail to more recent times. Phoenix is where Ernest Miranda created his crimes, and prisoners "Rights" were created. Plan at least 30 minutes. All of the docents were on the Phoenix police force so they are interesting to talk to. Free. The museum is on W. Jefferson St. which is the backside of the historic Town Hall. Be sure to walk to the Wells Fargo Museum and the Orpheum Theater.

I was visiting Phoenix for the weekend and found this place while Yelping 'Things to Do'. I parked in the parking garage around the corner. Street parking (meter and timed) is also available. Admission is free , but they do take donations since it is ran by a non profit . I was greeted at the door by a retired Phoenix PD officer who now is a reserve and volunteers at the museum . Very professional, friendly and can answer any questions you might have about any of the exhibits or surrounding area. The museum is well laid out . So many cool things to look out but not overwhelming . Learning about the Phoenix PD history was very interesting . Such a great set up they have here. They also have a memorial room of fallen Phoenix PD Officers along with an 9/11 memorial. Truly humbling. There's some merchandise to purchase at the counter. If you care to learn about the Phoenix PD and / or support law enforcement , this is the place to stop by when in Phoenix . The gentlemen in the front also gave me advice for other places to see in town.

What a great little museum. We were greeted as soon as we walked in. A very nice woman explained several of the exhibits. She said that the museum is run by retired police officers who volunteer their time. They have great artifacts that highlight the history of law enforcement here. Highly recommend stopping in for a visit if you are in the area!

Had a fun time learning about the history of the Phoenix Police Department today! We are in town on vacation and decided to stop by, it was a cute exhibit that was displayed nicely and the staff were very knowledgeable and kind. My boyfriend works in law enforcement and collects police patches so were able to donate some of his. Walt, one of the volunteers, walked around with us for a while and we had a great conversation. Would highly recommend!

The City of Phoenix had a tremendous amount of history. The curator of this small museum was able to capture the history in a counterclockwise setup. We spent just under an hour there, and got to see everything. The staff was very friendly, and they had a good amount of items for purchase.

My husband and I brought our two little boys and what a treat! This is a wonderful museum! We were given a special tour by a retired police officer. You can't get better than that! The staff here are knowledgeable, professionals and very kind. If you're ever in the area, please don't forget to visit this museum. You will not be disappointed.

This is an interesting piece of Phoenix history! It's a small -and FREE- museum dedicated to the history of the Phoenix police department. Starting from before Arizona's statehood to the present, it's quite a collection of artifacts. Don't miss the tribute room the fallen officers.

A family visit from the United Kingdom to Phoenix... we were looking for something to do before we went to Chase Fields. Saw this on Yelp and so we we went along. We were met with a very warm welcome from all the staff there. They were all very knowledgeable about Phoenix Police history especially the 41 year retired Police veteran. Really interesting about Ernesto Miranda and the history of giving arrested people their rights. A great collection of Police memorabilia and souvenirs of Phoenix Police. Well worth a visit.

I really like the car outside it's really well taken care of and it looks like you can still drive it. The inside is really small and really quiet but well taken care of as well it's not as interactive as the other three museums but still worth a stop

Most major cities have their big museums; but did you know most have smaller specialized museums too? Phoenix, AZ is no exception and it has some of the very best in the country. One of these is the Phoenix Police Museum. Recently moved into the old Police Headquarters building downtown it is a small space, but with lots of law enforcement history from early frontier days of horses and guns and bad guys, right up to the present time of gangsters and drugs and kids without a focus in life. The Museum is a great introduction to kids on how and why police are part of the stability of a community, our community. Amongst the many artifacts exhibited are both a police car and a motorcycle that kids (and big folks too!) can sit in/on and pretend they are defending their family, friends and neighbors. Mom or Dad can take their pictures for the family vacation scrapbook. Although the Museum is currently only open during the week, hopefully that will change as downtown Phoenix becomes more vibrant on the weekends. Hopefully, someday the old jailhouse upstairs will be part of the Police Museum too. And if your ancestors were part of the thriving Phoenix law enforcement community of the past and you have "artifacts" that will help tell our community story, please consider donating (or permanently loaning) them to the Phoenix Police Museum. They will cared for with loving hands and hearts. . . . and don't miss the Memorial Room and pay your respect to the wonderful men and police dogs who have given their lives to defend our way of life. Their sacrifices have made Phoenix one of the safest communities to live in in the United States. The day a friend and I visited the Museum we were fortunate enough to be there with a docent named "Tom." Tom is a retired Police Officer with a wealth of knowledge and a strong desire to share the stories and history of his life's work with all who are lucky enough to find and visit this small museum. It is a self-guided exhibit, but with Tom's help we were able to share so many back stories behind the exhibits. It was a special treat to have such a knowledgeable and outgoing docent. Thank you Tom! Thank you to all the wonderful men and women who give of their time and effort to make sure we, as a community, are safe, sound and secure.

What a great museum! It's small but packed with a lot of memorabilia from cars, motorcycle, uniforms, weapons, Memorial Room The staff consist of retired officers. I spoke with Steve who flew the very helicopter that sits in the museum. He educated me on Miranda rights and the guy behind it which is also part of the museum. Lots of info. He's a great guy to speak with. Kids off all ages will love to sit in the drivers seat of the police car to have a photo taken. Another good photo op is the chair where get your mug shot. They have a souvenir area with T-shirts, mugs, Xmas ornaments etc. Initially I was going to use the parking meters so I brought lots of coins. I guess I'm old fashioned BC these meters don't take coins nor do they take credit cards. No. They want you to go to an App to pay. To much of an hassle so I drove to the garage one building over on 305 Washington. The guys in the museum will validate your parking. The garage was much better any way. We needed the covered parking BC we were sweating like dogs in this heat!

This place was awesome! Being that I'm a Criminal Justice Major I was super excited when I found out about this place. The museum itself is small but full of interesting memorabilia and displays. The gentleman at the front desk was super nice and very helpful. The building used to be the old Police Department offices back in the day when Ernesto Miranda (Miranda Rights) was arrested, he was walked into that same building for processing back then. I thought this was the coolest thing ever! This place is also great for kids. They have police shirts kids can wear while walking around AND they let you get inside the police car they have on display. They also let you get on the police bike for pictures. I would highly recommend checking this place out. They also have some really cute souvenirs for sale.

A fantastic little museum showcasing the history of Phoenix law enforcement with tons of neat memorabilia. You can see the first jail (irons nailed to a rock!), great displays of guns, uniforms and incredible old photos from the late 1800s, through the 1900s and into the present. They have an old stagecoach, the city's first helicopter, the list goes on. The best part was the delightful guide, a retired officer full of great stories and neat little details.

The museum is small but my son loved it. He really enjoyed seeing all the different things and learning some of the history.

The place was clean and well kept. In spite of being a small Museum, it shows a lot of interesting items, an old police car, a police helicopter, a bomb defuser robot, and a room dedicated to all cops dead whipe doing their job. They also have some surprises that I won't spoil for you. I think it's not only a good Museum but also a good way to remember those who are dead protecting us. A reminder that cops aren't the bad guys to those who seem to have forgotten.

Well, of course it's 5 stars. How many other Phoenix Police Museums are there? This is it, and it's as good as it gets. Really, it's worth a visit if you can fit one into their 9-3 M-F schedule. Free admission, and if you have kids they'll get to wear real Phoenix PD shirts and play in a retired patrol car and on a meter-maid's 3-wheeler. There are dioramas showing the evolution of the department from the horse-and-buggy days to modern times of bomb-squad robots and body armor. It's rather small but nicely arranged, and part of one exhibit pays tribute to Phoenix as the birthplace of the Miranda rights read to each suspect nationwide for the last 45 years as they are being wrestled into the back seat of a cruiser: "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say . . . " Interesting gift shop area as well.

An insightfull and moving collection. The Phoenix Police Museum might look small, however the museum is packed with intresting displays and historical information. The museum has an area where children can play in a real police car or on a 3 wheel ATV. In addition to the play area there is a display on the Miranda case, which we are all familiar with "you have the right to remain silent..." The museum has a memorial room dedicated to those officers who have lost there life in the line of duty. You don't have to be in law enforcement to enjoy this museum, it's a great museum for everyone, including young children. I would recommend this museum to all.

Whatever your concerns about the contemporary Phoenix police department, it was still very interesting to learn about their history. From the brutal Wild West "jail rock" where prisoners were originally chained to await trial before the jail house was built (and often perished under the hot Arizona sun) to the first women on the force, there was a lot to see and consider. Not as brilliant or extensive a collection as the Vancouver BC Police Museum, but this one is donation-only. The retired police officer working the desk was also very friendly.

A small museum, staffed by volunteers who care. The exhibits are well thought out. The conversations with the volunteers (retired police men and women) was at least as interesting. A good way to spend an hour for adults or children.

I will add pictures at a later point in time, but we had a good time there. They have uniforms they allow you to try on, memorials to fallen officers, actual police cars you can climb into without penalty, and some very nicely done informative exhibits. They plan on expanding as well.

I had a great experience visiting this museum. There are many displays and exhibits such as old police cars, an original PPD helicopter, old firearms, and more.

Very cool museum! I enjoyed learning about Phoenix PD's history and a little history on the AZ Rangers. There's a lot to look at, even though the building is small. I loved the different uniforms and police equipment through the ages. The memorial was nice, too.

Awesome piece of Phoenix history. Very cool museum with a lot to display. Incredibly knowledgeable staff too.

This museum was a bit smaller than I was expecting but every bit as enjoyable! The lady giving us the introduction to our self tour was very informative and friendly. I really enjoyed looking at all the displays and reading the historical information. My girls really enjoyed wearing official police shirts, playing with handcuffs, sitting on the motorcycle and playing in the police car with the lights going. My kids also really enjoyed the 9/11 tribute room where they could also see pictures and read accounts of the Phoenix Police Officers that died in the line of action.

Really nice little museum. Kids (and grown ups) can sit in the restored police car and on the motorcycle. The exhibits are interesting and informative. The staff is very enthusiastic and devoted. A touching fallen officers memorial in one room. The location is wrong, though. It's in the back of the old courthouse on Jefferson.

Awesome museum and FREE! They had a veteran police officer who gave us a personalized tour! Wow! Worth the time to go!

What an unexpected gem. The volunteers are a wealth of knowledge of the history of the police department. Take a picture in a car or on the motorcycle. Admission is a donation, feel generous. They close at 3 so plan your visit early

Great little Museum! I'm glad that we were able to see here for just a few bucks. Even the tshirts were not too expensive.

This is a great place to visit! We were lucky enough to get the retired officer (Ken) whose partner arrested Miranda, so we got to hear the whole story. It was a treat!! They are all very nice and have great displays. I recommend this museum when you are out in the Phoenix area.

I visited the museum today. Being an ex Deputy Sheriff of the 1970's, I found the place to be a walk down memory lane. I didn't know that the Miranda Rights Supreme Court case was originally started here in this building with the arrest of Miranda by Phoenix PD back in 1963. You can be photograph like Miranda was if you like. The museum also displays uniforms, badges, weapons and other equipment used by the department through time since the beginning. The museum is staffed by very knowledgeable ex-lawenforcement types that I enjoyed talking to. There is no admission charge.

Great little museum. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by a retired homicide detective. He walked us thru the main parts of the museum which include a rock where arrestees were handcuffed to in the summer heat while they waited to see a judge (many died waiting). The police memorial with photos and stories of all their fallen, a 9/11 memorial with a piece of iron beam from Ground Zero and the whole story begin the Miranda Warnings (a true case that started all in a bar in downtown Phoenix). There's lots more to see. If in town or even a local, make sure to visit. It's a neat part of Phoenix history. And don't forget to make a donation.

What a great place!! There is so much within a relatively small space. The retired officers who run the museum do a fantastic job. They are knowledgeable and so friendly. Explanations and stories are a bonus to the displays. They are always willing to spend time with visitors. They will also turn on the vintage vehicle lights for an even greater level of realness. We learned that they are starting to revolve the displays so return trips will feature new items. The memorials to fallen officers and 9-11 are very tastefully done and moving. 30-45 minutes should allow you to thoroughly go through everything. HIGHLY recommended.

It's free and not busy. The people there will give you a personal tour of the place. It's located by the courthouse so some interesting characters in the area are wandering around. The address on iPhone and Android led us to a location a block away. It's on the north side of the court buildings across the street from the pharmacy.

Fantastic place! Just as other reviewers have mentioned, it has displays from the beginning of law enforcement in AZ to today. While this was cool for an adult, it really is exciting for the kids! I took a 6 and 4 year old. I thought they would be bored and want to leave after a few minutes, but we were there for over 2 hours! I had to drag them away! The kids got to wear real police uniform shirts, get into a police car and pretend. They loved "driving", using the radio, and playing with the computer. The motorcycle was a big hit as well. There was even a helicopter! Unfortunately, that was off limits. :) If you want to spend an interesting time, I would highly recommend! Linda spent a lot of time showing us around and explaining everything. She gave wonderful directions when I got lost. Google maps shows it on Madison, but it IS on Jefferson. Also, free validated parking. Donations accepted, not required. We will definitely be back. The kids wanted to know as we were leaving if we can go back tomorrow.

Though small, this place was awesome. It had a lot of great information and I learned a lot about the history. The employees were knowledgeable and super friendly. I will definitely bring any out of town visitors here to see.

I go here whenever I get a Chaco. It's very educational, and the staff is very knowledgable. The exhibits are interesting and well done. It's fascinating to see where the Phoenix police Department started, and how the far police work has come. Great for families and cool groups