TPD Patrol Division East Newsletter - May 2024

TPD's 2023 Annual Report is available on the City's website. Check it out at the link, here: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Police/About-TPD/TPD-Annual-Reports

Some highlights:

• All the effort poured into Place Network Investigations (PNI) and Problem-Oriented Precision Policing (POPP) paid off in a reduction in violent gun crime.
• New approaches to investigating these crimes resulted in an even more impressive homicide clearance rate than last year, as well as apprehending suspects before they have an opportunity to offend again.
• TPD was designated a Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) by the U.S. Department of Justice and our increased capacity to analyze ballistic evidence is yielding dividends.
• Staffing remains a challenge, but we succeeded in cutting attrition in half.
• TPD continues to invest in, and commit to, employee wellness - which most likely contributed to the reduction in attrition.

On April 16, 2024, officers responded to three separate bomb threats at Cienega High School, Desert Sky Middle School, and Empire High School.

At approximately 12:45 p.m., personnel from TPD's Threat Mitigation Unit (TMU) were made aware of three back-to-back bomb threats. All three schools reported receiving similar threats via telephone. Based on review of the initial information by TMU, the incident was a swatting incident; however, all three schools had already initiated full evacuations with a substantial law enforcement response before investigators arrived.

TMU personnel collaborated with Pima County Sheriff's Department investigators, since one of the schools was under the County's authority. Information on the suspect's phone number was linked to a 15-year-old Cienega freshman. Later, a voice message was located on one of the school's administrative lines, and a teacher at Cienega reported that it sounded like a current student's voice. There were no previously reported concerns or incidents with the minor, who admitted to the incident, saying it was just a joke. A threat evaluation was conducted, and no indicators of self-harm or harm to others were found. 

The minor was arrested and booked into the Pima County Juvenile Detention Center on three counts of Interference/Disruption of an Educational Facility. Parents cooperated with the investigation and provided the minor's phone for evidentiary review.

We appreciate the quick response from and collaboration with our partners at the Pima County Sheriff’s Department as well as the Vail School District Safety Director and staff. School administrators and safety personnel attended a debrief several days later and we discussed areas for improvement.

PNI is a proven method to reduce crime by disrupting the infrastructure that criminals rely on to operate. This can, and often does, include physical changes to the environment.

On April 5th, Lieutenant Lissette Gomez, CSO Terry Hayward, and Ward 4 Project Manager Martha Cantrell met with other City department representatives and community members at an open house to discuss a proposed alley closure behind 7450 East 22nd Street.

Closing this alley, it is believed, would help decrease criminal activity and violent crime in the area.

Special thanks to the partners we've been working with on this PNI project: Ward 4 Council Member Nikki Lee and her staff; Community Safety, Health & Wellness; Environmental & General Services; Transportation & Mobility; Housing & Community Development; Dietz Neighborhood Association; and area businesses.  

Operations Division East Officers Anissa Castle, Anais Sias, and Roza Vickers participate in a mentorship group for girls as part of Goodwill's METRO/REC Youth Program. At the May meeting, ODE officers demonstrated life-saving measures and answered questions about first aid. Our officers meet with the girls' group once a month.

The Tucson Police Department is part of a national initiative called 30x30, focused on increasing the number of female sworn members to at least 30% by 2030. The Tucson Police Department is halfway to meeting that goal. Relationship-building efforts like this can help steer young women toward becoming future police officers themselves.  

Did you know the Tucson Police Department has a program to help owners and managers of multi-housing properties reduce crime?

The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program offers quarterly all-day training classes at the TPD Westside Substation, 1310 West Miracle Mile. To sign up for the July 18 class, email the representative in your area. Contact information is here: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Police/Crime-Prevention/Crime-Free-Multi-Housing