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July 2024
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Captain John Carlson
Operations Division Midtown
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ODM Changes
This will be my last newsletter for Operations Division Midtown, as I am retiring later this month. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work in this department and for this community.
I'm leaving ODM in very capable hands. Captain Stacie Schaner (bottom photo, left) comes to us from TPD's Community Engagement Division and is excited to return to Midtown, where she once served as a Sergeant in patrol. Captain Schaner will take over in Midtown effective July 28th. Please welcome her.
Also, the annual shift change is upon us. As of July 14th, officers moved into new squad assignments.
A second ODM Community Response Team (CRT) squad goes into effect this month. There will be several months of crossover training, however, before we have 7-night-a-week coverage. This is to ensure that personnel are comfortable in their roles and know what is expected of them before putting them in the field.
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Forensic Evidence Leads to Homicide Arrest
On June 1, 2024, Midtown officers responded to the 900 block of North Alvernon Way. A man had pointed a shotgun at his neighbors, who were outside their apartment with their children. The suspect was screaming at them in Spanish as he walked toward his vehicle in the parking lot. He fled in his vehicle before officers arrived but returned to the apartment complex on foot a short time later and was detained by officers. In an excited utterance, he told them, "I did not mean to point the shotgun at him."
The victims identified the suspect and a search warrant was obtained for his residence. Ammunition and a shotgun manual were located inside. His vehicle was located nearby and a search recovered the shotgun, ammunition, and spent shotgun shells. The suspect was booked without additional incident.
In the early morning hours of June 2, 2024, officers responded to a check welfare call in the 0 block of North Tucson Boulevard. The 911 caller arrived at work and found an unresponsive male lying in front of the business in a pool of blood. Officers determined that the victim had been shot and he was pronounced deceased. Bullet fragments were located around the area.
Homicide detectives responded and discovered that the deceased victim had not had any contacts in Tucson and was from Illinois with ties to Texas. He appeared to have been homeless. There did not seem to have been a struggle and the victim's belongings appeared undisturbed.
Through forensics, detectives were able to link the two incidents. The same suspect was arrested and charged in each incident.
ODM Statistics
Activity
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Type
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2024 Division Year to Date
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2024 Department Year to Date
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Calls for Service
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15,825
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68,194
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Officer-initiated Activity
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3,300
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17,427
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Gun-related Crime
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14
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99
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Homicide
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5
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30
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Traffic Citations
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8,376
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22,610
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Staffing
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Type
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2024 Division Year to Date
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2024 Department Year to Date
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Sworn Members
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103
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812
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Community Service Officers
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37
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153
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Professional Staff
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5
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246
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ODM in the Community
June was another busy month, with ODM personnel present at many community events where we all battled the heat together. June was also Gun Violence Awareness Month.
Midtown personnel participated in Juneteenth celebrations on June 19th, a World Refugee Day event on June 22nd, and the Freedom Park BBQ on June 29th.
Officer of the Month
Officer Adrian Harrison is a seven-year veteran of the department, and the unofficial leader of Operations Division Midtown Squad 6. Each and every day, Officer Harrison shows up to work eager to perform his duties as a police officer. He is dependable, knowledgeable, and takes time to mentor and coach younger officers in the division.
Officer Harrison can be counted on with any difficult task or hot call. No matter the challenge, he will get the job done. An example of this was on July 2nd, when he assisted Homeland Security Investigations in attempting to stop and arrest narcotics dealers.
Officer Harrison has exceptional investigative skills. Recently, he responded to a call for service where he contacted a SORT (Sex Offender Registry Tool) offender. He discovered that the subject was out of compliance and later arrested him for several felonies.
Officer Harrison also excels at on-site police work, embracing the methods of POPP (Problem-Oriented Precision Policing) and PNI (Place Network Investigations). Locating a grand theft auto near Midtown's POPP location, he stopped and recovered the vehicle. Follow-up led him to identify and arrest the primary suspect. He also identified that this was most likely related to a burglary in Operations Division East.
Operations Division Midtown is lucky to have Officer Harrison!
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Crime Prevention Tip
If someone asks you to pay them with a gift card or gift cards, hang up, disengage - it's a scam.
Scammers are very good at pressuring people to take action before they've had a chance to think. Later, when they realize they may have made a mistake, they're often at a loss what to do.
Even if you've already given the scammer the number on the back of the card, if you act immediately, you may be able to cut down on your losses. The Federal Trade Commission has a list of contacts for gift card companies. Call them, even if the scam took place a while ago, report it, and ask for your money back. You might get lucky. Remember this option, if you hear of a friend or relative who's made this mistake.
Your first line of defense remains: never, ever, comply with anyone's demand that you pay them with gift cards.
Photo credit: dennizn - stock.adobe.com
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July Events
July 9 – Monthly ORCA meeting
July 9 – VIVA meeting (formerly PNI)
July 9 – AGI Coalition meeting
July 12 – Boys and Girls Club Teen Takeover at Freedom Park pool
July 16 – Ft Lowell Coalition meeting
July 23 – Resource Fair at Oasis
July 25 – 29th St Coalition meeting
July 27 – 29th St Back to School Bash
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