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 AHPA is a strong organization and a respected voice at the State Capitol. We:
- Are the largest employee organization at the Department of Public Safety
- Represent sworn, civilian and retiree members
- Answer only to its members and does not take direction from any outside or national organization
- Represent only Department of Public Safety Employees
- Are a respected voice at the State Capitol, as evidenced by this year's success with the pay parity bill, the meet and confer bill, etc.
- Make charitable contributions to organizations to the Special Olympics, the Make A Wish Foundation of Arizona, The 100 Club, an Annual Scholarship Program, and many more.
 AHPA has been representing the interests of sworn officers, civilians and retirees for more than 25 years. We have brought reforms that are now considered basic rights for DPS employees. Here"s just a few:
- Sick leave buy-back at retirement
- Right to negotiate with DPS management (Meet and Confer)
- Pay parity for DPS sworn employees
- 2080 hours of industrial injury leave for each DPS officer to state law
- Compensation for overtime in the same week that leave time is used
- Purchase service weapon for $1 at retirement
- Support Observer Program for IA investigations
- Voice in rulemaking for Merit System Council
- Improvements to ASRS, including fix of Long Term Disability Plan
- Membership on Civilian Compensation Working Group
 AHPA takes care of the people who take care of us. Membership in AHPA includes benefits that no other employee organization can match, such as:
- A legal plan with over $6 million in assets to protect its members, unlike other organizations’ plans. There are no exclusions -- all administrative, civil, and criminal issues are covered with legal representation through the Legal Defense Fund and the Law Offices of Michael Napier P.C.
- Over $400,000 in AHPA general reserve funds to guard against hard times.
- A Political Action Committee to build positive relationships with lawmakers.
- Life insurance. (Sworn: $10,000, $60,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment, dependents. Civilian: $10,000 $20,000 AD&D).
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In 1995, the Officer Monument Committee was founded by the AHPA, Associated Highway Patrolmen of Arizona, now named the Arizona Highway Patrol Association, Chaired by Frank Shankwitz with at this time only a handful of committee members. This committee was formed to find funding sources for a statue and memorial walls, to honor DPS officers killed in the line of duty and to give tribute to all DPS officers as well, retired and active. 
