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Captain Lauren Pettey
Operations Division West
January 2026
Team Effort Leads to Major Narcotics Seizure
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Operations Division West's Community Response Team (ODW CRT) conducted a focused narcotics enforcement operation that resulted in two arrests and the seizure of significant quantities of illegal drugs, firearms, and cash.
On December 26, 2025, officers completed an undercover drug transaction, leading to the seizure of approximately 180 counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills, one ounce of methamphetamine, and an additional 2,000 counterfeit pills recovered during a search warrant at the suspect's residence.
On December 27, 2025, following a brief foot pursuit, officers detained an associate of this suspect, and a subsequent search warrant resulted in the seizure of approximately $59,128 in cash, four firearms, 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 4,200 counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills, and suspected fentanyl powder.
Both suspects were booked into the Pima County Jail on multiple felony charges. This case reflects excellent teamwork and coordination between ODW's CRT, Squad 4, and supporting units, resulting in a significant impact on community safety.
A Message From the New Lieutenant in Operations Division West
"I was hired by the Tucson Police Department in 2005 as a Police Services Operator in the Communications Division. I later graduated SALETC Class 07-2 and was assigned to ODW Patrol. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to serve in a variety of roles as an officer, to include: auxiliary TFO with Air Support, DUI Squad, and the Motors Unit.
In 2016, I was promoted to sergeant and assigned to ODM (shout out and throwback to then FTS Pettey). I returned to ODW patrol Squad 5 and District 40s until returning to the Motors Unit in 2020.
Outside police work, I’ve been married to my beautiful wife for 17 years and we have two children. As Tucson natives, our work and family life takes us into ODW daily. My wife’s business is located a few blocks outside Sector 3, and my office has been at C12 for the past several years. This connection makes the hard work and dedication from the ODW team especially important and personal to me.
I’m excited to be back and look forward to meeting and serving alongside each one of our team members in ODW." – Lt. Aaron Marquis
ODW wishes Lt. Rudy Dominguez all the best as he transitions to his new assignment with TPD Emergency Management! He will be missed in ODW, but his new position is luckily still located in the Westside Substation. Lt. Marquis will be assuming Lt. Dominguez’s ODW duties, and we are excited to have him here.
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ODW Statistics
Activity
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Type
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2026 Division Year to Date
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2026 Department Year to Date
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Calls for Service
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1,639
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5,941
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Officer-initiated Activity
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1,211
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2,506
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Gun-related Crime
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2
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6
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Homicide
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1
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3
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Traffic Citations
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873
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3,394
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Staffing
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Type
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2026 Division Year to Date
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2026 Department Year to Date
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Sworn Members
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136
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812
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Community Service Officers
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27
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133
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Professional Staff Investigators
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3
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31
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Professional Staff
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2
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225
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TPD Wellness Fair
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On December 3rd, Stretch Zone® joined TPD's Wellness Department Wellness Fair and offered assisted stretching to attendees from the City, including the Police and Fire Departments, helping promote mobility, recovery, and overall wellness. Many thanks! |
Coffee With a Cop at Nordstrom Rack
 Operations Division West partnered with Nordstrom Rack to host a Coffee with a Cop event that provided an informal setting for positive engagement and open dialogue between officers and community members.
We appreciate Nordstrom Rack for their continued support of community-focused initiatives and thank Lt. Chlopowicz and CSO Walka for stopping by and supporting the event. Opportunities like these continue to build trust, collaboration, and positive relationships between the Tucson Police Department and the community.
Bikes, Smiles, and Community Spirit
 Sergeant Alexander, CSO Valenzuela, and the Zebras came together to support students and strengthen community connections through this exciting bike distribution initiative. Many thanks to donors Jesse Lugo and Lugo Charities!
New Year's Eve in the District
This past New Year’s Eve was sponsored by the Arizona Bowl. The event moved to the Jacome Plaza, a much larger venue than in years past.
This resulted in a roughly 73% increase in attendance. Despite the much larger crowd and the past history of traffic issues related to the event, there were no major issues or concerns during the entire celebration.
District resources, along with additional officers, assisted in a carefully designed game plan that created a safe and fun environment for all. No fights, traffic closures/accidents, or injuries occurred during the event, and many more families attended the celebration than in the past.
The Tucson Downtown Partnership and the event organizers were extremely satisfied with the results, and many present said how they loved the new venue. There are plans to expand even more for future events, as the success of this year’s celebration was huge.
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Officer of the Quarter
Congratulations to Officer Wolverton, who has been selected as Operations Division West Officer of the Quarter for the 4th Quarter of 2025.
Although he joined the division just three months ago, Officer Wolverton has quickly established himself as a true force multiplier. He consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic, a team-first mentality, and a willingness to step up wherever needed to support squad operations.
Officer Wolverton has shown exceptional tenacity in call follow-up, particularly in cases involving children. His work has included handling multiple felony-level child abuse investigations, with follow-up conducted across divisional boundaries. His diligence, persistence, and attention to detail have directly contributed to successful arrests and positive case outcomes.
Through his professionalism, reliability, and commitment to thorough investigations, Officer Wolverton has become a valued asset to Operations Division West and exemplifies the high standards expected of an Officer of the Quarter.
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Crime Prevention Tip
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it's a good reminder to watch out for romance scams – whether they're targeting you or a loved one.
AARP has information on how to avoid these scams, which are often, but not always, targeted at older adults. So do the FTC and the FBI.
These are some of the saddest crimes, as they prey upon the human need to love and be loved. Victims sometimes can't be convinced that they are victims, preferring to believe – against all evidence to the contrary – that the person they're interacting with loves them and has their best interests at heart.
If you're concerned that a loved one may have fallen victim to a romance scam, AARP has suggestions for how to talk to them about it. These crimes can be devastating, financially and emotionally.
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Join the Tucson Police Department
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Know someone who cares about Tucson and would be a good fit for TPD and Operations Division West?
Send them this QR code and encourage them to apply!
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