God's Army is on a mission to preach and deter crime on streets of Phoenix

When Richard Tamayo hits the streets of Phoenix with fellow members of God's Army, he has two things in mind:

"The main purpose of God’s Army is to save souls. Our secondary purpose is to save lives,'' he said.

The retired New York City detective, who now lives in Phoenix, started God’s Army in 2005 to spread the word of God. Preaching the gospel remains his priority, he said.

God's Army is a volunteer group that uses its members’ experience as former law enforcement and military professionals. That background is key to the second mission, that of a citizen patrol in areas where crimes have occurred.

One of God's Army's goals is to bridge the gap between local law enforcement and the the community, Tamayo said.

"We understand the culture of law enforcement; we understand the community,'' he said.

On the scene after a crime

Tamayo described a recent double homicide in a south Phoenix park where, after police had concluded their investigation, God’s Army canvassed the area and preached to those who may have been affected by the violence. 

Tamayo said God's Army strives to assist local law enforcement by being a presence that helps deter crime.

The Phoenix Police Department declined to comment on God's Army when contacted by The Arizona Republic.

One of his colleagues in God's Army said Tamayo has inspired others to get involved.

"(Tamayo) believes in his mission 1,000 percent," David Hummer, a U.S. Air Force military police veteran, said. "The drive that he exhibits in a sense drives me." 

Tamayo said about 50 people are part of the Phoenix group. Not all are former police or military.

However, because so many are, some members carry firearms and other equipment considered commonplace for a police officer. But the equipment is not mandatory, Tamayo said.

"We understand the type of dangers there are in areas that we go to, gang areas and prostitution areas, that we are dealing with this specific element, that we have to go in there prepared for anything," he said.

'Good thing' or 'scary proposition'?

Tamayo said he also conducts his own investigations on crime sprees, most recently a string of robberies that have happened at Metro PCS stores in north Phoenix.

Carlos Espinoza, a manager of the Metro PCS near 32nd Street and Greenway Road that was robbed in May, says he supports God's Army, which walked the area around the store after the robbery.

 "If they can help the police find the perpetrator, I'd say they're doing a good thing for the community."

Eric Wasson, owner of North Valley Bicycles, spoke to Tamayo briefly while he was investigating the robbery of a Metro PCS near Cave Creek Road and Union Hills Drive.  

Wasson said he originally thought Tamayo and his partner were Maricopa County Sheriff's Office deputies because of their attire.

He questions whether the group is going too far.

"It's a scary proposition that they're investigating crimes," Wasson said.

Newfound ministry

Tamayo was a 13-year veteran of the New York City Police Department when, he said, his relationship with God blossomed and spurred him to move to Arizona. He describes the change in a book he wrote called "The Bible Detective Finds Jesus and the Queen."

Once in Arizona, as part of his newfound ministry, he began printing T-shirts that had "Jesus" on the front and "God's Army'' on the back in yellow, block letters.

People — many former police or military professionals among them — began asking where they could find one, he said. More than a few also had an interest in the Bible.

From there, God's Army was born, he said.

Tamayo said there is a possibility the group could expand.

Jack Blanchard, a 28-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, told The Republic he reached out to Tamayo and expressed an interest in helping him establish a branch of God's Army in the Los Angeles area.

Tamayo said his faith and the commitment of former law-enforcement officers to help neighborhoods keep safe remain the keys wherever the group may branch out.

"Our politician, Jesus, has put more cops on the street — without promising anything.''