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Captain Belinda Morales
Operations Division East
January 2025
ODE Says Goodbye to Officer Michael Duffrin
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 Officer Duffrin passed away on October 29, 2024, surrounded by his wife, daughter and close family members and friends. On December 14, 2024, department members attended Officer Duffrin’s memorial service to celebrate his life and commitment to serving his nation and community.
Officer Duffrin was hired by the Tucson Police Department on September 29, 2005. Prior to his employment with the Tucson Police Department, he served with the United States Air Force and honorably retired after 22 years of service.
Officer Duffrin went through Field Training in Operations Division Downtown (ODD) and Operations Division Midtown (ODM). After completing training on May 28, 2006, he was assigned to ODD, where he became a Lead Patrol Officer and Field Training Officer. On March 4, 2012, he was briefly assigned to the Emergency Management & Homeland Security Section until he returned to patrol in April of 2012. Four years later, Officer Duffrin transferred to Ops East, where he remained until his passing.
I appreciate Sergeants Rueben Guido, Alex Ferguson, Dan Deloria, Zach Mechtel, Bri Saarloos and Brian Knight for leading our team through this difficult time and being present for the Duffrin family.
Organized Retail Theft Deployments
The Neighborhood Crimes Section (NCS) led two organized retail shoplifting deployments in December at seven major retail establishments. A total of 16 arrests were made – 5 felony and 11 misdemeanor charges – and $4,112 in merchandise was recovered for our local retailers. NCS continues to collaborate with area businesses to provide a safe shopping environment for our community members.
Bike Deployment
The Bike Unit responded to community complaints in the areas of Pantano and Broadway and Tanque Verde and Kolb.
They located a camp in the wash north of 200 South Pantano Road. Campers claimed they had permission to reside in the wash – that information was proven to be false. The campers vacated the area with no issues.
The Bike Unit located another camp in the desert west of the Ward 2 Office. One subject was contacted. He was cited and released for multiple misdemeanor charges.
The Bike Unit gained intel from their contacts at Pantano and Broadway and developed information about a home in the area involved in various criminal activities. Officers contacted a subject they saw leaving the target home. He had nine outstanding warrants, drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine, and suspected powdered fentanyl. Officers contacted a total of 11 individuals, made three arrests, and served nine misdemeanor warrants.
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Find Information on Proposition 414
The City of Tucson has published information on Proposition 414, on the ballot this March. Check it out: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Office-of-the-City-Manager/Proposition-414.
ODE 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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1,838
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8,086
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Officer-initiated Activity
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527
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2,416
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Gun-related Crime
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2
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10
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Homicide
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0
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6
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Traffic Citations
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132
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1,827
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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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106
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790
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Community Service Officers
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29
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150
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Professional Staff
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4
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252
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Christmas Dinner
 On December 13th, the ODE leadership team provided a Christmas dinner for our hardworking on- and off-duty Sergeants, Officers, Community Service Officers and Professional Staff members. 2024 was a good year and we wanted to show our appreciation to the men and women of Operations Division East.
It’s very rare for us to be able to sit down and connect with our people over a hot meal due to our crazy schedules. My favorite part of the entire event was the kids running around the station! (Don’t tell my Chief.) In 15 years, these same kids may be part of our police department. That’s my plan, anyway.
ODE Shows Up for Kids
 ODE commissioned and professional staff department members participated in Christmas events throughout the city: T’was the Night Before Christmas, Breakfast With Santa, Christmas With a Cop, and Kids & Cops to list just a few. Captain Belinda Morales, Sergeants Brichelle Saarloos and Eric Hatch, Officers Ysela Welding, Katherine Hoffman, and Ivan Camacho, and Community Service Officer Thomas Ogden all helped to create a fun experience for our Tucson youth.
These events foster strong and positive relationships with our Eastside community – and the joy this brings the kids is priceless.
Member Highlight
Officer Kenneth Wise has been with the department for the past six years, all of which he has spent in Operations Division East. Before joining the department, Ken attended Northern Arizona University, completing his Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Family needs brought Ken back to Tucson, where he followed his wife to begin a career with the Tucson Police Department.
Ken became a Field Training Officer in 2021 and has since helped many officers through field training. As a matter of fact, Ken takes immense pride in seeing the success of his rookies. Ken plans on taking the next sergeant’s process and continuing to mentor officers.
Sergeant Anderson has had the privilege of working with Ken for his entire supervisory career. In his words, "Ken has proven to be invaluable to the division, our squad, and myself. In addition, Ken possesses a vast knowledge of Arizona Revised Statues, General Orders, and overall department policies and procedures."
We appreciate you, Officer Wise!
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Crime Prevention Tip
There's a cruel scam going around that has cost some Americans hundreds of thousands of dollars – or more.
Called "pig butchering," it refers to the practice of fattening hogs before slaughter.
For a detailed description of how the scam works, see ProPublica's article on how pig butchering scams work.
Many of these scammers use MetaTrader, available in both the Apple and Google app stores. See the inset in this ProPublica article. And remember: if it seems too good to be true, it most likely is!
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ODE Recruiting Link
I need your help.
Please share this QR code with people who may be interested in a new and exciting career with the Tucson Police Department.
Save the QR code on your phone and share it with those who you think should be policing the Eastside.
I appreciate your help!
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