Tucson Police Department
The Tucson Police Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for the city of Tucson. Sworn members of the Tucson Police Department are commissioned as peace officers by the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board. This authority is valid throughout the State of Arizona at all times and locations.
Regardless of job assignment, non-sworn members shall not have authority over sworn members in matters involving the exercise or review of police powers.
According to the department, the mission of the Tucson Police Department is to serve the public in partnership with the Tucson community, to protect life and property, prevent crime, and resolve problems.
The department is headed by the Chief of Police and is divided into three sections: Analysis, Engagement & Oversight Bureau, Investigative Services Bureau and Patrol Services Bureau
Operation divisions
South
Operations Division South, known as "Team 1" and working out of the Santa Cruz Substation, is home to 167 officers. This team consists of 9 patrol squads, civilian staff, Neighborhood Crimes detectives, two Community Response Teams, and command staff.Within the boundaries of Operations Division South are 30 active neighborhood associations. Officers attend their regular meetings, special events, and neighborhood cleanups, and are available to assist with solving problems facing a neighborhood.
Officers serve in mentoring programs, youth sports, music programs, volunteering with the elderly, and many church or social functions. The division spokesperson said "we realize we are not just here to support the community, but are a part of this community."
These traditional functions include protecting life and property, preserving the peace, enforcing laws, and arresting suspects.
West
Operations Division West, or "Team 2," provides police services to the northwest portion of the City of Tucson. Operations Division West is housed at the Westside Police Service Center 1310 W. Miracle Mile.The division has nine uniformed patrol squads, 2 Community Response Teams that address specific problems in the division, as well as a Neighborhood Crimes Section that comprises detectives who investigate a variety of crimes that occur within the division's boundaries. Personnel are also available to provide information and assistance regarding crime prevention and the Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program.
Operations Division West is home to the Tucson Mall, which is one of the city's largest malls. There are many other businesses, particularly along Oracle Road and Stone Avenue, and a large collection of car dealerships along Auto Mall Drive. There are two Pima Community College campuses and two public high schools within the Division boundaries. Interstate 10 and Union Pacific railroad tracks bisect the division on a north–south line.
Some of the oldest neighborhoods in Tucson are in Operations Division West, and there are 22 organized neighborhood associations. The neighborhoods are diverse, ranging from historic barrio areas west of downtown Tucson, established residences in the center of the division, the Old Pascua Yaqui Village south of Grant Road, and newer homes and neighborhoods on the far west side, including the Marriott Starr Pass Resort.
Several of the older neighborhood associations on the west side of town joined in the 1990s and formed the Westside Coalition. This coalition was selected as a federally sponsored "Weed & Seed" site and has been operating successfully for over five years. This effort exemplifies the community-based policing model that is used in Operations Division West and throughout the Tucson Police Department. Patrol officers in the division are assigned to work with the neighborhoods and their respective associations on an ongoing basis.
The central and northern parts of the division are home to a large business area, including both the Interstate 10 business loop and a large corridor of business development along Oracle Road, including the Tucson Mall and a collection of car dealerships. The older business loop is generally less prosperous and is home to some historic ills that the department continues to address. Prostitution and narcotics offenses predominate in this older area, and are worked on an ongoing basis by the Community Response Team.
The Community Response Team offers flexibility for the division in responding to crime problems and constituent complaints received from City Council offices. The officers in this unit are able to work varied hours in either uniform or plainclothes capacity. To combat the prostitution problem, for example, the Community Response Team frequently conducts "sting" operations where large-scale sweeps are made of not only the prostitutes, but their customers as well. These efforts, coupled with aggressive assistance from the prosecutors and courts, including placing zone restrictions to keep arrested prostitutes from returning to the area, have been helpful in dealing with this quality-of-life issue for local residents, according to Tucson police and several city council members.
Midtown
Operations Division Midtown, sometimes referred to as "Team 3," encompasses approximately 44 square miles. The geographical boundaries of the division are River Road to the north, First Avenue/Euclid to the west, Aviation Highway/Golf Links Road to the south and Craycroft Road to the east. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the University of Arizona also lie within the division.The substation housing officers that are assigned to Operations Division Midtown is located at the Patrick K. Hardesty Midtown Multi-service Center.
Operations Division Midtown is one of five divisions within the Field Services Bureau of the Tucson Police Department. In 2006 the division got a new station, but in 2008 it suffered a decrease in employees from 180 to about 120 officers and civilian personnel. The division's command staff consists of a captain and three lieutenants. The majority of the officers working in the division are assigned to one of 12 patrol squads, each supervised by a sergeant. The focus of the division is to provide 24-hour police service to all citizens whether they live, work, or are just passing through the division.
The division is authorized 14 lead police officers, one for each of the 12 patrol squads, and the Community Response Team.. In addition to their regular duties, each lead police officer is assigned to act as a liaison with the division's Neighborhood Associations. Additionally, lead police officers schedule the attendance of an officer for Neighborhood Association meetings or functions.
In addition to the 12 patrol squads, the division deploys squads of officers assigned to the Community Response Team. This team's main responsibility is to proactively address crime problems specific to the Midtown Division and its neighborhoods. A community resource sergeant, a community resource officer, and a criminal intelligence officer are also on staff to serve as community liaisons. Their focus is to work on issues that will improve the quality of life for the citizens of Tucson.
Also housed in the substation is the Neighborhood Crimes Unit. This unit is composed of a Detective Sergeant and a squad of detectives. They investigate a variety of crimes committed within the division's boundaries. In addition to case followup and criminal arrests, detectives offer on-sight assistance and expertise to patrol officers.
Operations Division Midtown is unique, in that its boundaries fall within five of the six City Council Wards. Portions of Wards II, III, IV, V, and VI are interspersed throughout the division. The division is also home to one Level I trauma center, University Medical Center. UMC's trauma center is the only Level I trauma center in Tucson or Southern Arizona.
In 1980, Officer Smith was on routine patrol in the vicinity of Speedway Boulevard and Plumer Avenue when a motorist grazed the rear of his motorcycle. Officer Smith's motorcycle was thrown into the opposing lane of traffic, where he was struck head-on. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In 2003, Officer Hardesty responded to a hit-and-run collision in the 800 block of east Ft. Lowell. A short time after his arrival, Officer Hardesty made contact with the suspect. A scuffle ensued, and Officer Hardesty was fatally shot.
Downtown
Operation division downtown is home to fifty police patrol officers, including one captain, two lieutenants, six sergeants and five detectives. Also housed in the main station is one marshal and four community service officers as well as the command structure of the department, though the command is not subordinate to the Downtown Division.Members working in the team accomplish their mission using a community policing philosophy and a variety of assignments that include Motors, Bikes, Walking Beat, Headquarters Security, Prisoner Transport, Court Security, and Community Service.
The goal of the Downtown Division is to work in a cooperative effort with stakeholders and community partners to provide a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for all people in the area. This includes the numerous visitors to the central business district who come to partake in its many cultural focal points such as the Tucson historical district, Fourth Avenue, the Tucson Convention Center, and the Temple of Music and Art.
In 1892, Officer Elliott was patrolling Meyer Street between McCormick and Cushing just after midnight when Santos Alvarado, a notorious criminal, confronted him. Alvarado drew a knife and attacked Officer Elliott. The officer sustained a stab wound through the heart and died at the scene. Alvarado was shot and killed by Officer Elliott.
In 1902, Officer Katzenstein was in the vicinity of Broadway and Meyer Street when a fire broke out. He responded to assist as an officer and also as the elected Assistant Fire Chief. As he was opening a hydrant, he was shot five times by Teodoro Elias.
The Downtown Division is home to the only remaining Bicycle units. The bicycle patrol consists of 10 officers divided between a dedicated bicycle patrol squad and other evening patrol squads. In September 2012, a night time bicycle unit was stood up. The night bicycle detail worked the city's entertainment district on nights with high numbers of patrons of downtown. In December 2013, the night bicycle squad was dissolved and those night bicycle officers instead reported to patrol supervisors alongside patrol units. Starting in January 2014, there would around the week evening bicycle coverage.
The Walking Unit is also based out of ODD. The Walking beat is made up of 7 officers and is responsible for the immediate downtown area. A number of members of the walking unit are certified as Bicycle Patrol officers and ride bicycles on occasion.
Both the Walking Unit and Bicycle patrol use specialized equipment such as T3 Motion stand up vehicles, Yamaha 4WD quads, GEM Cars, and a Polaris Ranger.