Line of Duty Death
 On the evening of March 31, 2024, Easter Sunday, TPD and Operations Division Midtown Lead Police Officer Adam Buckner was responding to a priority call, his emergency lights and siren activated. As he approached the intersection of Campbell Avenue and 6th Street, a motorist failed to yield, causing a collision. LPO Buckner was gravely injured and, despite the life-saving efforts of community members, other officers, Tucson Fire personnel, and medical staff at Banner University Medical Center, he did not survive his injuries.
LPO Buckner was an outstanding police officer, who joined TPD as a lateral hire from New Orleans. He was 31 years old.
TPD is mourning the loss of one of our own, and we especially extend our condolences to Adam's family and his friends and colleagues in Operations Division Midtown.
We will honor LPO Adam Buckner at our Memorial event in 2025, when his name will be added to those of TPD officers killed in the line of duty before him. We also honor him every time we practice the professionalism and compassion Adam showed every day he wore the uniform.
Car Theft Suspects Arrested
On the evening of March 15, 2024, a 2014 red Kia Rio was stolen from a parking lot in the 700 block of West Starr Pass Boulevard. The victim reported the vehicle stolen the following morning.
On March 16th, at approximately 10:30 a.m., a suspicious activity call was reported to 911 about a group of teenagers checking the doors of vehicles in a parking lot in the 1200 block of West Irvington Road. The caller reported that the subjects (three males and one female) appeared to have broken into a red Kia Rio.
Officers arrived on scene and located the Kia Rio, unoccupied, but were advised by a possible witness that the subjects were headed south through the plaza. Officers approached and detained three subjects. A witness advised that a fourth was still headed south. Officers located the fourth subject and he was also detained. The subjects detained were:
Male (12 years old)
Male (13 years old)
Male (16 years old)
Female (18 years old)
While in the parking lot, they had attempted to steal a second vehicle, which had extensive ignition damage. One subject had several screwdrivers and charging cables on his person, as well as a pair of gloves. Another was in possession of screwdrivers and charging cables. Sgt. Zopfi was on scene and Sgt. Landau with Operations Division South Neighborhood Crimes Section was notified. Detective Gradias responded and conducted the investigative follow-up. CSOs on scene assisted with processing both vehicles and checking the area for video surveillance. The several suspects were arrested for the following:
Unlawful Use of a Means of Transportation, Burglary Tools
Auto Theft/Attempt, Burglary 3rd Degree, Criminal Damage (F)
Auto Theft, Burglary 3rd Degree, Criminal Damage (F)
One subject was also arrested for Unlawful Use of a Means of Transportation and unrelated felony charges of Aggravated Domestic Violence.
Robbery Call Yields Drug House Arrests
On March 17th, shortly after 11:15 p.m., witnesses reported that two males were pointing firearms at an unknown victim in the 3300 block of South 6th Avenue. Officers responded and the Air Support Unit followed the suspect vehicle to the 1600 block of South San Jose Drive, where the suspects were seen entering a residence.
Officers later identified the driver and passenger (19 and 16 years of age). A firearm magazine was located on the passenger side of the vehicle and a Glock 22 firearm was in a nearby recycle bin. One suspect fled on foot and was taken into custody in an alley south and west of the residence. He stated that he picked up the other suspect early in the evening. They were going to meet with a male who they arranged to sell them a firearm. The suspects planned on robbing the victim for the firearm. He said the Glock was his and he gave it to the other suspect to use in the robbery. When they met with the victim, they attempted to conduct the robbery but were only able to get the magazine for the firearm.
The victim was not located. Both suspects are prohibited possessors. A warrant was obtained for the residence as well as for suspect DNA. While searching the residence, a large amount of U.S. currency and sales amounts of meth (almost half a pound) and cocaine (over a pound) were located. The Counter Narcotics Alliance (CNA), a multi-agency task force that includes TPD, responded to continue the investigation regarding possible drug sales.
The thorough investigation by ODS officers resulted in detectives serving a search warrant at a problem house in the division. Both suspects and the homeowner were booked into jail on felony charges. Solid work!
ODS Statistics
Activity
|
Type
|
2024 Division Year to Date
|
2024 Department Year to Date
|
|
Calls for Service
|
9,667
|
40,153
|
|
Officer-initiated Activity
|
2,778
|
11,308
|
|
Gun-related Crime
|
19
|
54
|
|
Homicide
|
4
|
16
|
|
Traffic Citations
|
827
|
8,728
|
|
