OUR BOARD MEMBERS

Chris Timmins is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Preston’s Pursuit for Acceptance (PPA). Chris is a twenty-five-year veteran of law enforcement in the Phoenix Metropolitain area spanning over three agencies and currently holds the position of Employee Services Lieutenant which manages the Hiring/Recruiting and Peer Support/Officer Wellness Units for his agency.

Chris has held positions in Detention/Corrections; Crime Scene Investigation Unit; Patrol Division; Field Training Unit; DUI Traffic Enforcement Unit; Robbery/Homicide Unit; Intelligence Unit; Narcotics Unit, Criminal Apprehension Team; and management in addition to his current role/position. Chris has been a defensive tactics instructor, use of force instructor, and electronic control device instructor (S.M.E.) for almost two decades. Chris has specialized training in impaired driving detection and apprehension, and many other modalities within law enforcement. 

Chris is a transformational leader, innovative thinker, and tactical minded with a focus on professional policing practices, especially focusing on positive interactions with those within the disability community. Chris has been influential in creating a cultural shift at his current agency in autism awareness and acceptance. Chris is a husband and father, and his family has influenced his views on policing, through having meaningful, positive interactions with the community while still protecting and serving with high morals, ethics, and professionalism, and again especially for those individuals with a disability.

During Chris’ career he saw a cultural shift of expectations for policing in America and firsthand saw the lack of training provided to first responders for autism awareness. This void has prompted him and Autumn to make a change in the way first responders are equipped to protect and serve their communities, through education, collaboration, and exercises first responders can make a positive difference in the effectiveness of service brought to those individuals on the spectrum as well as all of society.

Chris has been married to his wife, Autumn, for twenty-one years, and together they have two amazing children. Their oldest son was diagnosed at an early age with autism. This has driven both Chris and Autumn to make a difference, and through PPA they intend to make a change.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northern Arizona University and a Master in Public Administration in Disaster and Emergency Management from Park University.