Janice Strauss is Mesa's police chief.  In October 1998, Jan became the first female police chief in the City's 120-year history, and oversees the department's 1,000 sworn and civilian employees.

Jan joined the Mesa Police Department in 1978 as a patrol officer and was promoted to detective in 1979. She was promoted to sergeant in 1984 and lieutenant in 1989 and to commander in 1992.