TPD Patrol Division East Newsletter - August 2024

Captain Belinda Morales
Operations Division East

August 2024

Zebra Officers Address Business Concerns at the Pima Street/Wilmot Road Intersection

On July 1, Operations Division East's Zebras, CORE (Community Outreach Resource & Education) Unit, Sergeant Williams, Lieutenant Gomez, and the City Manager's Multi-Agency Resource Coordinator all attended a meeting with Eastside businesses.

Our local business owners expressed concerns regarding the rise in open-air fentanyl use and criminal activity in the area. David and Kim Krepp from Integrity Treatment Solutions graciously provided the meeting venue and food.

ODE has committed patrol resources, our Zebra and Bike Units, and ongoing surveillance to identify the drivers of this activity as well as possible interventions.

Recently, ODE patrol made two significant arrests of suspected drug dealers in the immediate area. The ODE team will continue to collaborate with businesses and other City departments to address these issues. Thank you to our Eastside community for bringing this forward and being willing to work together to find solutions to what are complex social issues.

Officer Davis was recently selected as ODE's Drone Operator. In addition to helping ODE, Officer Davis is always willing to help other patrol divisions with his drone assets. In the past month, Officer Davis and his drone assisted in several important operations.

One notable incident was a plainclothes operation in which our Community Response Team was surveilling an aggravated assault suspect. The suspect eluded surveillance by exiting his vehicle and disappearing into an apartment complex. With the help of Officer Davis and his drone, we were able to reacquire surveillance and formulate a plan, taking the suspect into custody without issue.

Drone use brings a heightened level of safety for officers and the public. Officer Davis’s ongoing dedication to the drone program is much appreciated.

Farewell to Lieutenants Lissette Gomez and Johnny Malovich

After two years in Operations Division East, Lieutenants Lissette Gomez and Johnny Malovich are being reassigned. Lieutenant Gomez is now working in the Office of Professional Standards and Lieutenant Malovich is assigned to the Training Division. We thank them for their time and dedication to our division and look forward to watching them thrive in their new roles.

I will introduce you to your new commanders in next month’s newsletter. I am happy to welcome Lieutenants Albert Baca and Jesse Chamberlain. They both come with a wealth of knowledge and experience and I have no doubt they will serve the Eastside community with the utmost professionalism and customer service.

Back to school means students with bikes and that, unfortunately, brings out bike thieves.

So, how can you make your bike less of a target?

• Always lock your bike, no matter how long you'll be away from it or how much (or little) it cost.
• Lock the most expensive parts and take anything that's easily removed with you.
• Use a lock that can't easily be cut with bolt cutters or a hacksaw. Better yet, use two.

In case your bike is stolen, report it. Chances of recovery are not great, but they're nonexistent if you don't report. These steps may help.

• Photograph your bike and write down its serial number.
• Consider getting a bike GPS tracker and bike insurance.

Don't confront a thief, either in the act or later, if you see your bike being offered for sale online. Call the police. You may love your bike, but it's not worth your life.

For more information, check out: https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/how-to-prevent-bike-theft/

and https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/how-to-lock-a-bike-tips-on-proper-practice-to-prevent-bike-theft/