Captain Belinda Morales
Operations Division East
March 2025
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ODE Saving a Life
On February 26, ODE officers responded to the 9500 block of East Myra Drive for a report of a court order violation. According to the call text, the victim had woken up on the morning of February 25th and found her ex-boyfriend standing in her bedroom. The suspect had gone through the victim's property and then left the residence. He was on probation for domestic violence cases involving the victim, had a violent criminal history, and had previously served 12 years in prison. Additionally, probable cause existed to arrest him for an earlier incident where he purposefully crashed a vehicle into the victim's car at a stop light, while she was in it.
While on scene, Officer Zhao attempted to contact the victim but was unsuccessful. Even though the call had held for a considerable amount of time, Officer Zhao did not clear it, and he continued to work leads to find the victim, citing “a bad feeling about the call." During that follow-up, Officer Zhao learned of the suspect’s criminal history and of the existing stop and arrest. Additional ODE officers responded to assist and, through that follow-up, they were able to determine that the victim had not reported to work that day, none of her friends could get hold of her, and a nearby witness had seen an unidentified man enter the residence earlier in the morning.
Officers contained the residence and attempted to locate the victim's phone. The victim's phone returned to the immediate area, and she responded to a friend saying that she knew police were present but was "afraid to exit." Based upon all the information, Sergeant Pelton believed that the victim was in danger, and he directed a Crisis Team to enter the residence through the rear sliding door to check her welfare. The Crisis Team found the suspect inside, arrested him, and then located the victim, unharmed. The suspect was arrested for several domestic violence felonies. The officers involved in this incident are to be commended for their attention to detail, tenacity, and willingness to enter a dangerous situation to potentially save a life. These officers truly embody the values of the Tucson Police Department, and we are proud to have them as members of Operations Division East.
Fire as a Weapon
Nationally, police departments have encountered a trend of barricaded suspects lighting their houses on fire as a tactic to either ambush first responders or to keep police at bay. Tucson is not immune to that trend – we have had six such incidents in recent years, two of which have occurred in ODE. To counter that tactic and stay on the cutting edge of training, ODE officers participated in Fire as a Weapon training with members of S.W.A.T. and Tucson Fire this month. This training gave patrol officers a basic familiarity with firefighting tactics, integrating efforts with Tucson Fire, and the use of fire hoses, should they ever find themselves in a situation where they needed to help Tucson Fire in these types of emergencies, to save lives and property.
Child Welfare Call Response
 On February 19, 2025, ODE Squad 9 officers responded to a 911 call in the area of East 29th Street and South Harrison Road. Concerned school staff had reported potential danger to the safety of children inside a residence. Upon arrival, officers discovered three children (ages 17, 12, and 11) inside the home and quickly began investigating.
During the investigation, the father became aggressive with officers but was safely detained. Officers interviewed witnesses, examined evidence, and processed the crime scene, determining that the home was unsafe for the children.
ODE officers collaborated with detectives from the Child Physical Abuse Unit, technicians from the Crime Scene Unit, and investigators from the Department of Child Safety (DCS) to ensure the children's safety. A search warrant was obtained, and crucial evidence was located.
DCS executed a Court-Authorized Removal for all three children, finding safe placements for them. Thanks to the quick, coordinated actions of ODE Squad 9 and their partners, the children were removed from harm’s way. While the investigation remains ongoing, the father was charged with Domestic Violence Aggravated Assault on a Minor and Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer.
This case is an example of how ODE Squad 9 officers go above and beyond to protect vulnerable children and keep our community safe. It also demonstrates the vital role of community policing – maintaining the community's trust so that incidents like this are reported and can be acted upon.
ODE Statistics
Activity
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Type
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2025 Division Year to Date
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2025 Department Year to Date
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Calls for Service
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5,860
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25,238
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Officer-initiated Activity
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1,340
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6,521
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|
Gun-related Crime
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4
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25
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|
Homicide
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1
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15
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|
Traffic Citations
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594
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8,360
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