Behind the Badge: How OVPD Keeps Oro Valley Safe Every Day

Oro Valley’s top safety rating is the result of daily dedication and hard work... every day
The Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) is a constant, sometimes unseen, presence in the community, working behind the scenes to ensure that life in Oro Valley runs smoothly. 

While their efforts don't often make headlines, they tackle serious issues every day. Based on our review of Town Manager Wilkins’ “Executive Report to Council” reports for this year, we have identified five key areas where the department’s impact can be seen most clearly.

Tackling drug and violent crimes
OVPD conducts a wide range of criminal investigations, from drug busts to violent confrontations. In August, after a surveillance operation involving multiple teams, officers arrested a fugitive carrying illegal drugs, cash, and even brass knuckles. It wasn’t just a routine arrest—it was a precise effort that removed a dangerous individual from the streets. A month earlier, officers responded to a domestic violence incident that quickly escalated. The suspect not only fled the scene but caused two car crashes while trying to escape. OVPD was able to detain him, bringing the situation to a close before anyone else was harmed.

Responding swiftly to school threats
When threats target schools, quick action is essential to keeping students safe. In September, OVPD arrested a 15-year-old student after investigating a threat made against Canyon del Oro High School. The situation could have caused widespread panic, but the prompt response minimized disruption. Similarly, in May, officers evacuated the U of A School of Veterinary Medicine when an alarming phone call triggered concern. The evacuation was precautionary, but OVPD ensured the safety of students and staff, defusing the situation before any harm could occur.

Supporting federal arrests thru local operations
Sometimes, OVPD’s work extends beyond local matters, as they often assist federal agencies. In September, officers worked with U.S. Border Patrol to intercept a vehicle near a local school that was suspected of transporting undocumented individuals. The proximity to the school led to a brief lockdown, but the cooperation between agencies resulted in a successful outcome. Just a month earlier, OVPD teamed up with U.S. Marshalls to track down and arrest a fugitive. That effort helped bring another suspect, wanted for shooting a Pima County Sheriff’s Deputy, into custody.

Handling serious traffic incidents
What starts as a routine traffic stop can quickly escalate into something far more dangerous. In February, officers pulled over a vehicle for a basic violation, but what they found was far more serious—firearms and narcotics that the passenger had tried to discard during the stop. Another incident in March saw officers respond to a pedestrian being critically injured by a vehicle. Both cases are reminders that traffic-related incidents often involve split-second decisions and can carry significant consequences.

Proactively engaging the community
Not all of OVPD’s work happens in the field—some of their efforts focus on educating and empowering the community. In March, the department hosted a Fraud School, partnering with local organizations to help residents, particularly seniors, recognize and avoid common scams. Community engagement goes beyond events, too. In January, OVPD used social media to gather public help in locating a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run. With input from the community, officers were able to identify and arrest the suspect.

Working every day to make us safe
These examples highlight just a portion of the important work OVPD does on a daily basis. Their ability to respond to a wide range of issues—from public safety and criminal activity to community outreach—helps ensure Oro Valley remains not only a safe place to live but also one where residents can actively contribute to their own security.

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Bits and Pieces

Celebrate the season opener at Pusch Ridge Golf

Come one come all for a day of fun and camaraderie at the Pusch Ridge Golf Tournament on October 24, honoring beloved groundskeeper Rick Messina. Whether you’re ready to golf in the morning or afternoon shotgun tournaments, or simply want to enjoy a Boston-inspired lunch with friends, this event has something for everyone. Sign up now to be part of this community gathering, enjoy exclusive Pro Shop discounts, and connect with fellow golf enthusiasts. Don’t miss out—register today! 

The Loop trail reopens early following levee improvements

The Loop trail along the Cañada del Oro Wash has reopened ahead of schedule after completion of the Pima County Regional Flood Control District’s levee augmentation project. This project, initiated after the 2020 Bighorn Fire, involved building new flood walls and removing sediment in key areas to improve flood protection and enhance safety. The improvements ensure compliance with FEMA regulations and provide a smoother path for trail users to enjoy. (Source: Oro Valley Media Release)

Get ahead of scams, teen driver safety, and community programs with OVPD​

The October Oro Valley Police Department 2024 CrimeFighter Newsletter dives into a new, unsettling email scam, offers crucial tips for National Teen Driver Safety Week, and explains how the Neighborhood Watch program strengthens community safety. The newsletter also presents the "OV Safe Return Program" for vulnerable individuals and provides answers to common legal questions about political signs and safe driving. If you're interested in staying informed about these topics and more, check out the full newsletter for practical advice and important updates from the Oro Valley Police Department!

Oro Valley destination marketing just getting started

It’s been three months since Oro Valley took over its destination marketing from Visit Tucson. The town appears the Town is just beginning to establish foundational steps. The town has joined Destinations International to enhance its destination marketing efforts and access key industry resources. The Town is planning in-person public art tours and has an upcoming meeting with a tour bus operator for logistics. It hosted two Leisure Travel Stakeholder Meetings to finalize a vision statement and ensure alignment on a new request for proposal (RFP). Additionally, the Town has responded to RFPs for various sports events, including the Tucson Bicycle Classic and OV Tri, scheduled from February to April 2025. (Source: Town Manager Wilkins October Report To Council)

Progress Report on Valley Vista subsidence issues 

"There are two sections of street being repaired. The first section, repairing some surface defects on Lauterbrunnen Lane is complete. Although this was repairing surface defects only, Pulte made the decision to conduct the robust repair being utilized at the subsidence zone. The more critical of the repairs, within the subsidence region of the intersection of Kalalau Drive and Romsdalen Road are currently underway and expected to be complete by mid-October." (Source: Town Manager Wilkins October Report To Council)

Tomorrow is "Second Saturday" 

Tomorrow, head to Steam Pump Ranch from  9am to 1pm for “Second Saturday,” featuring historical tours, live music, and the Oro Valley Farmers Market. 

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Bits and Pieces

Tonight, Marana visits CDO in "Tangerine Road Battle" 

Undefeated Marana High School visits Canyon del Oro (CDO) tonight in what is shaping up to be the biggest game of the season for CDO. Led by new head coach Scott McKee, CDO has turned things around after an opening loss, going on a three-game win streak to bring their record to 3-1. What’s remarkable about CDO’s performance this season is that only a handful of seniors from last year’s state championship team have returned and they have a new coach. Go Dorados!

Council approves seeking $18 million in funding for NWRRDS
The Oro Valley Town Council has approved seeking a loan from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) to fund the Northwest Recharge, Recovery, and Delivery System (NWRRDS) project. This project will enable Oro Valley to bring CAP water from the Avra Valley reservoirs directly to the Town. Currently, that water is delivered to Oro Valley through the City of Tucson water system.

The loan will cover some this fiscal year’s expenditures, which are budgeted at $22.3 million. To date, the project has been funded through a combination of impact fees, groundwater preservation fees, and a previous WIFA grant. This approval allows the town to proceed with the loan application process to secure the necessary funding to continue the project.

The total project cost is estimated at $47.6 million, with $10.2 million anticipated to be spent in the final year of the project in fiscal 2026. The loan being sought will only cover some of this fiscal year’s expenditures, ensuring the project can continue without disruption. We anticipate that the final year’s spending will also need to be funded through a future loan.

Town receives two awards for communications and marketing
The Town of Oro Valley received two national awards for its communications and marketing efforts from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA). The first award, a Silver Circle Award for Best Use of Humor, was for a social media video promoting the town's shred event using a "Star Wars" spoof. The second award, an Award of Excellence in the Digital Interactive – Media, Radio, Podcast category, was for the *This Is Oro Valley* podcast series, which provides updates on town services and events. Both projects were recognized for their success in increasing community engagement.

Bark in the Park at Steam Pump Ranch tomorrow

"Calling all dog lovers! Join us this Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, from 5 to 8 p.m. for Bark in the Park, a free community event hosted by Town of Oro Valley Parks and Recreation at Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle Road. Bring your family, friends, and furry companions for an evening of fun-filled activities dedicated to our canine friends! Enjoy a dog costume contest and plenty of opportunities for your pups to make new friends. Participants register on-site for the dog costume contest, with prizes provided by the Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank for the best-dressed dogs." (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

Today is the last day to register for Community Academy
Today is the last day to register for Oro Valley’s 27th Annual Community Academy. This program offers residents the chance to learn about important topics such as water use, growth, and traffic while helping to shape the town’s future. The academy runs from October 3 to November 4, 2024, with both in-person and online participation options available. Don’t miss this opportunity to get involved in planning Oro Valley’s next 10-year action plan. Register by the end of the day at orovalleyaz.gov.

No council general planning liaisons will be assigned this time around
In 2014, two council member liaisons were assigned to the *Your Voice, Our Future* general plan effort, though their exact role was unclear. We asked Mayor Winfield if he planned to do the same for the current *Path Forward* planning cycle. Mayor Winfield told us that no specific council liaisons would be assigned. Instead, all council members can participate in the general plan process as they choose, and updates on the plan’s progress will be presented to the council periodically.

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Key Developments and Community Updates from Oro Valley Town Manager September Report To Council

Oro Valley’s September 2024 Highlights: A Month of Progress and Community Engagement
September 2024 has been a month of continued accomplishments and initiatives in Oro Valley, underscoring the town's commitment to enhancing community life, ensuring safety, and fostering economic growth. The following are some of the key highlights and achievements from this month.

Emergency Preparedness and Community Engagement
As part of Emergency Preparedness Month, Oro Valley has focused on raising awareness and equipping residents with the knowledge to handle potential disasters. The town encouraged residents to register for local emergency alerts, prepare evacuation plans, and review insurance policies. Additionally, the 27th annual Community Academy is now open for registration, offering residents a chance to learn about town operations, growth management, and public safety over ten sessions starting in October.

Police Department: Ensuring Safety and Recognizing Excellence
The Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) has been active in maintaining public safety, with notable operations that led to the arrest of a wanted fugitive and the safe resolution of a potentially dangerous domestic situation. The department also celebrated its officers' achievements, with commendations for Officer Andrea Keena for her work on Drug Awareness Day and Officer Michael Kleinberg for his role in organizing the town’s 50th-anniversary celebrations. Furthermore, Officer Trey Brown was honored by MADD Arizona as the OVPD Officer of the Year for his efforts in removing impaired drivers from Oro Valley's roads.

Water Utility: Commitment to Quality and Conservation
The Water Utility department received high praise from the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality for its excellent maintenance and operations, with no violations found during the triennial survey. The department continues to expand its WaterSmart program, with 37 new users added in August, bringing the total to 7,856. The Water Utility’s fall newsletter, which includes important information on water management and infrastructure, was distributed to customers, further emphasizing the town’s commitment to water conservation.  Progress on NWRRDS [panel right], the project that will bring water from Avra Valley directly to Oro Valley, continues.

Community and Economic Development: Growth and New Opportunities
Oro Valley continues to see steady growth, with five new single-family residential permits issued in August, bringing the year-to-date total to 117. The town also issued 149 permits in August, including for new businesses such as DiBellas Brunch-n-Booze and Pillar Speech Therapy. Economic development efforts included participation in statewide business attraction efforts, though the town faced challenges in responding to requests for large-scale facilities. Oro Valley and Marana were recognized at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism for their successful co-hosting of cycling events, further boosting the town’s reputation as a destination for sports tourism.

Public Works: Infrastructure and Safety Enhancements
Public Works projects continue to make significant progress. The Community and Recreation Center’s elevator installation remains on schedule, with completion expected this winter. The Oro Valley Town Court expansion is transitioning to the second phase, with the project remaining both on schedule and under budget. Additionally, the town is addressing subsidence issues in the Valley Vista subdivision with a comprehensive street replacement plan. Residents had the opportunity to learn more about this project at an open house on September 12.

Parks and Recreation: Enhancing Community Spaces
Parks and Recreation has been active in both event programming and facility improvements. The Aquatic Center has seen upgrades, including new refrigerators and planned replacements for ADA lifts and deck chairs. September marks the start of a busy swim season for local high schools, with the Oro Valley Aquatic Center serving as the home site for practices and competitions. The department is also preparing for a variety of fall events, including the popular Friday Night concerts at Steam Pump Ranch and the annual Bark in the Park dog event.
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Source: (Town Manager Report To Council, September 2024) 

OVPD Prioritizes Protecting You and Your Family From Scams

"Oro Valley Crimefighter"
Most of us know the Oro Valley Police Department from what we see on the road: a traffic stop, or assistance in an accident.  

The department does much more than that to ensure your safety. For example. each month the Department issues a Crimefighter publication, offering valuable tips and updates to help keep you and your family safe. Crimefighter is well worth reading. Here is the link to this and prior month's issues.

The following are a couple of tips from this month’s Crime Fighter Bulletin that we think you’ll find useful.

Avoid monsoon season contractor scams
Heavy rains and strong winds often lead to property damage, and unscrupulous contractors may target homeowners in need of repairs. To protect yourself, verify a contractor's license, get multiple bids, avoid large upfront payments, and insist on a detailed contract. Always check references, ensure the contractor has proper insurance, and be wary of special deals or cash payments. 

Focus on Back-to-School online safety

With many parents sharing back-to-school photos, it’s crucial to protect your child's privacy online. Avoid posting personal details like their full name, school, or grade, which could be exploited by predators. Adjust privacy settings on social media, disable location tags, and carefully check the background of photos for identifying information. Consider sharing pictures privately with close family members instead of posting publicly. Educate your children on the importance of internet safety and the risks of oversharing personal information.

Taking these precautions and others offered by the department will help you safeguard your home and family. Stay informed. Stay safe.
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Guest View: Diane Peters – Risking Our Lives on Oro Valley’s Roads (Part 1)

Anyone who reads the OVPD Facebook page has probably noticed that there have been numerous traffic accidents in Oro Valley lately. Many of them have been major accidents, many have had serious injuries, and two of these accidents resulted in fatalities (one being a pedestrian). As a result, I have become fearful of driving in Oro Valley – fearful of being in an auto accident and fearful of witnessing one.

An epidemic of serious traffic accidents in just the past four months
August 2

A 2-vehicle collision at Oracle and Hardy. One person died and two were seriously injured. (The driver of the second car that caused the accident fled the scene but was later arrested. A person who witnessed the accident and tried to help the victims said, “It was horrifying.”)

August 7

A 2-vehicle collision at Oracle and La Reserve which included a rollover.
August 15

A 3-vehicle collision at Tangerine and La Canada that involved a rolled over semi-truck.
September 24

A serious crash at Oracle and Suffolk. Three people were taken to the hospital.
September 25

A 4-vehicle collision at Oracle and Magee.

October 7

Collision rollover at Oracle and La Reserve (Right Photo)
November 21

A 2-vehicle rollover collision on Oracle, south of Steam Pump Ranch.
December 4

Multiple vehicle collision at Tangerine and La Cholla.

December 6

Multiple vehicle collision at Lambert and La Canada with one vehicle rollover.

And these are just the accidents of which I’m aware. These accidents all occurred at intersections with traffic lights. 

I’ve lived here for 20 years, and I don’t remember this many serious crashes when our population was around 30,000 in 2003 and our roads were all just one or two lanes in each direction, many with 4-way stop signs rather than traffic lights. 

More than one crash per day
There was a total of 414 auto accidents from January through September of 2023. That’s 414 accidents in 273 days! January was the worst month with 63 crashes. According to Town documents, the majority of accidents have been caused by speeding, failure to yield right of way, and running red lights.

The most dangerous intersections
According to 2022 statistics, the worst intersections for crashes in Oro Valley were:
• Oracle and Magee
• Tangerine and First
• Oracle and Pusch View
• Oracle and Hardy
• Oracle and Ina
• Lambert and La Canada
• Tangerine and La Cholla
• Tangerine and La Canada
• Oracle and El Conquistador Way

Fatal Accidents in 2022
There were five fatal accidents in 2022 occurring at the following intersections:
• Tangerine and Innovation Park Drive
• Oracle Road and Pusch View Lane
• Oracle Road and El Conquistador Way
• Oracle Road and Hardy
• Oracle Road and Magee

What is the Town doing about this problem?
I contacted the Town to inquire if anything was being done to improve safety at these intersections because, for example, despite numerous OVPD HiVE deployments (High Visibility Enforcement) at Oracle and Suffolk, serious accidents continue to occur at that location. I was informed that the Town has an internal Traffic Safety Committee whose purpose is to discuss traffic safety concerns, and that “Engineering and Enforcement are working with ADOT to look into intersection improvements for Oracle Road.”

Oro Valley Traffic Safety Committee Members
The membership includes senior staff members from Town Engineering, Town Management, Planning and Zoning, OVPD, and Golder Ranch Fire Department. Their job titles are listed below:

Public Works Director/Town Engineer, Engineering Senior Traffic Technician, Senior Civil Engineer, Public Works Engineering Manager, Engineering Traffic Technician, Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Management Analyst, Planning and Zoning Administrator, Principal Planner, OVPD Police Sergeant, OVPD Police Lieutenant, Regional Emergency Response Planner, Golder Ranch Deputy Fire Marshal, Constituent Services Coordinator, Chief Civil Deputy Attorney, Information and Technology Director.

Part 2 will be published tomorrow and includes safety tips from the Town Engineer.
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Diane Peters has lived in Oro Valley since 2003, moving here to escape the humidity of the East Coast. She’s been involved in OV politics and development issues since 2006, including organizing a citizens group that negotiated a controversial 200-acre development project. In her past life, she worked in various medical specialties at three university hospitals in New England. Her interests include reading, writing, nature photography, travel, art galleries, museums, and politics.

Bits and Pieces

Town seeks applicants for volunteer commissions

"ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (Sept. 27, 2022) – The Town of Oro Valley is accepting applications from residents who are interested in serving on a board, commission or committee. Oro Valley boards and commissions provide an opportunity for residents to be active in Town government. 

To serve on any board, commission or committee, members must be residents of Oro Valley, be able to attend the designated meetings and complete the Town’s Community Academy within their term. Those interested in applying can visit the application process on our website."

The following are fourteen openings: 

• Budget and Finance Commission (3) 
• Historic Preservation Commission (1) 
• Parks and Recreation Commission (3) 
• Planning and Zoning Commission (2) 
• Stormwater Utility Commission (1) 
• Water Utility Commission (3) 
• Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee Representative (1)

(Source: Town of Oro Valley Press Release)

Oro Valley Police Sergeant Sanchez cited for leaving the scene
"ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (Sept. 28, 2022) - Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) Sergeant Jose Sanchez was cited by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) for leaving the scene of a collision stemming from an off-duty incident on September 6, 2022. In order to avoid interfering with the investigation, OVPD was not able to advise the community until the criminal investigation by the PCSD was complete.

Inquiries regarding the details of the criminal investigation should be forwarded to the PCSD. In addition, there is an ongoing administrative investigation to determine whether any policy violations occurred. OVPD would like to thank PCSD for their professionalism throughout the investigation.

Chief Kara Riley stated “OVPD is committed to complete transparency and is now able to advise the community of this incident. The trust of our community is vitally important to us, and we will always strive to maintain that trust.” (Source: Oro Valley Police Department Press Release)

Oro Valley Town Council to retain a search firm to identify the next Town Manager

The Oro Valley Town Council met in special session Wednesday to agree upon a process for finding a new Town Manager. This became necessary when former Town Manager Mary Jacobs resigned last Friday.  The town will select among three firms using the "cooperative contract process". The cost of the search is yet to be determined. The search will be nationwide. Chris Cornelison is is now the interim town manager.  The Town Council will be integrally involved in the process.

In a press release this morning, the Mayor provided the following comment: "“We are grateful for the many years of leadership that Ms. Jacobs provided, and we wish her well in her future endeavors,” said Mayor Joe Winfield. “My fellow councilmembers and I have directed Town staff to work with a recruiting firm to conduct a nationwide search for our next Town Manager. We are committed to casting a wide net to ensure we find a quality candidate to carry on the great work of the Town in the years ahead.”

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Guest View-Diane Peters: Danny Sharp’s Claim Is Quite A Stretch

Mayoral Candidate Danny Sharp’s comment in the Explorer
In the June 22nd edition of the Explorer, Oro Valley mayoral candidate Danny Sharp continued his battle cry that the OVPD is understaffed, and then says, “I mean this town was founded on the premise of strong public safety. They [the Winfield council] are not attending to that strong public safety piece that the Founding Fathers of Oro Valley thought was important."

This is the first time I’ve heard that Oro Valley was founded on the premise of strong public safety. Every article I’ve read on this topic over the years has stated that Oro Valley was founded because residents didn’t want to be annexed into Tucson. They wanted to control their own destiny. They wanted to protect the desert landscape. The founders also promised that Oro Valley would never have a property tax. Now that the former chief of police is running for mayor, suddenly we’re told that Oro Valley was founded on the premise of strong public safety.

The Oro Valley Historical Society (OVHS) published an article on LOVE in April 2021 about Oro Valley Founding Father, Jim Kriegh. They listed all of the reasons that he wanted to incorporate Oro Valley. Strong public safety is not mentioned.

Here is what was mentioned in the OVHS article:

The Main Reason was to continue “Country Living”
When asked why he wanted to incorporate Oro Valley, Kriegh said the main reason was that he believed that Tucson was “going to spread to the North and Northwest, and there goes country living. Country living is why I am here.”

With that, Kriegh ensured that his core value of protecting the environment was encompassed in Oro Valley’s first General Plan which included the following objectives:

• Ensure that development is compatible with the area’s topography, natural landscape and resources

• Promote physical forms which are in harmony with the natural environment and reflect a design quality appropriate to the area

• Protect the natural beauty and qualities of the existing desert environment

• Encourage the preservation of the mountains, foothills, and hillsides

Police protection was barely a blip on Kriegh’s radar screen
In a video interview that Jim gave many years ago, he was asked why he wanted to form a separate town. In that interview he again spoke of land use issues and that the founders were not happy with the Planning and Zoning being approved by the Pima County Board of Supervisors and that the Board was not responding to their desires and requests. This was why the founders wanted to “gain control of our area.” He briefly mentioned that the Pima County Sheriff’s Department was “spread too thin and just could not cover the area” and as such, he felt that our police protection could be better. But this comment was barely a blip on the radar screen and he never said that Oro Valley was founded on the premise of strong public safety.

The recurring theme in Jim Kriegh’s plan
As you can see, the recurring theme in Kriegh’s desire to incorporate was to preserve country living. Therefore, Sharp’s assertion that “this town was founded on the premise of strong public safety” is quite a stretch.

Our public safety is doing just fine under Mayor Winfield
In April of this year, the Town announced that, “OV was ranked the #1 safest place to live in Arizona for 2022 by Elite Personal Finance, using FBI statistics and crime scores.”

Additionally, as reported on LOVE on May 16th, during the May 2022 Budget Study Session, Chief Riley stated that she got everything she asked for in her $19.1M police budget request. (Town Manager’s Recommended Budget for FY 2022/23 which begins on July 1, 2022). You can read about it HERE. And on June 24th, the OVPD announced that they were hiring more lateral police officers.

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Diane Peters has lived in Oro Valley since 2003, moving here to escape the humidity of the East Coast. She’s been involved in OV politics and development issues since 2006, including organizing a citizens group in 2014 that spent 9 months negotiating a controversial 200-acre development project. In her past life, she worked in medical research at various University Hospitals in New England. Her interests include reading, writing, nature photography, travel, art galleries, museums, and politics.

Bits and Pieces

OVPD  warns of two "Stranger Danger" Incidents
ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (May 31, 2022) - The Oro Valley Police Department has received a report of a suspicious male approaching young children while playing outside. Two 7-year-old boys were riding bicycles ahead of their parents and were approached by a white male walking his dog. The male asked the boys if they wanted to go home with him before being refused and leaving the area. This subject was described as a white male in his 70s, 5’10”, 160lbs, with white hair, walking a medium-sized white and brown, fluffy dog.

 
This marks the second stranger danger occurrence within one week.

 
It is unknown if these events are related or if the males described are the same person. The Oro Valley Police Department is asking the community to stay vigilant and urges residents to immediately call 9-1-1 if they see something suspicious or have further information on the incidents mentioned above. We also ask that you have a conversation with your children about the dangers of talking to strangers and what they can do to keep themselves safe.

 
This community notification is not intended to increase fear; rather, it is our belief that an informed community is a safe community. The OVPD Criminal Investigation Unit is investigating the incidents. (Source: Town of Oro Valley Police Department Press Release)

National Trails "Concert and Hike" Tomorrow Night at Catalina State Park

The Town of Oro Valley is sponsoring a trail hike at Catalina State Park tomorrow night. "We will be hiking the Canyon Loop trail (2.3 miles, 60-90 minutes). If it has rained your feet could get wet as we cross three streams. Please bring water and a flash light (required). In addition to the hike, Catalina State Park will be hosting a concert starting at 6:00 p.m., so make sure to come early and enjoy the show before the hike! This is a family friendly hike for individuals 8 years and up." Pre-registration is required.

Oro Valley Police Dept. announce new "Join OVPD" recruitment website
ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (May 31, 2022) - The Oro Valley Police Department is excited to announce the launch of the new OVPD Recruitment website that serves as a one-stop resource for those interested in a career in law enforcement with the Oro Valley Police Department.

 
The website streamlines the recruiting and hiring process so those curious about employment with the Oro Valley Police Department can easily get the information they need. Information provided includes job descriptions and requirements, pay and benefits, testimonials of current officers and dispatchers, as well as information about the Oro Valley Community itself.

 
This is a great tool, which the Oro Valley Police Department hopes will attract more interest in the law enforcement profession and make it easier for qualified and dedicated individuals to start their careers. This is a recruitment vehicle that can be used to show the tremendous community support the Oro Valley Police Department enjoys. Combined with the recently adjusted pay plan making our officers the highest compensated in the area, the website will help ensure we are fully staffed and equipped to keep Oro Valley one of the safest places to live in Arizona. (Source: Town of Oro Valley Police Department Press Release)

Free document shredding tomorrow at Naranja Park

The Town of Oro Valley is offering free document shredding for Oro Valley tomorrow at at Naranja Park from 8 a.m. until noon (or until the trucks are full). Residents can bring up to five medium-sized boxes that will be shredded on-site. Shredding confidential documents helps fight identity theft. 

Above and Beyond: Officer Alex Carillo

Oro Valley Patrol Officer Alex Carillo went above and beyond

It’s one thing to save even just one life in your lifetime. It’s amazing to do it twice. Imagine saving two lives in your first year as a patrol officer. That is exactly what happened to Oro Valley Police Officer Alex Carillo last year. 

Saving two lives

Alex was the first officer on site in two instances last fall. He used his well-honed CPR skills to bring a lifeless 1 year old to life.  He did the same a few months later for a 40 year old cardiac arrest victim.

We met Officer Carillo. We found him to be as affable a gentleman as one could ever meet. He is "Dad" to a three year old son. He was born and raised in Douglas. He comes from a corrections family. He was in the Air Force. He was a car salesman. He hated that. But he does love working in public safety in Oro Valley.

An unresponsive child, lifeless, not moving

“The whole family was hysterical. It was mom’s birthday so you can imagine how mom was feeling. Her one year old not breathing. I pick her up. I start rubbing her chest. She’s not giving me any reaction. My partner is trying to calm everything down.” 

Alex thought: “We need to do our job here. We need to be the calm ones and we need to fix the situation. I start doing CPR. It seem like forever. She’s not giving me anything. And then, out of know where, she throws up a huge amount of water. Water gets all over me. I can’t tell you how great that felt. It was an insane amount of water out of this little body. She starts breathing again... labored breathing. It was a great moment. That’s why I signed up to do this.”

A cardiac arrest

Maybe four weeks later “We get a call. A male who is having a heart attack. He just passed out speaking to us.” When he got to the house, Alex found the male. “He’s purple. He’s blue. I thought: ‘This is bad’. I start doing my CPR and ask despatch for medical assistance ASAP. I’m doing this for what seems forever. He starts coughing. I’m seeing signs of life. ‘Ok’ I think, we’re getting somewhere’.”

To Carillo’s relief, a GFRD Chief and crew come to the door. “I’m thinking. This is good. This guy must know what to do.” Finally, Alex can take a moment to reflect: “I look around. I see three little kids’ bicycles....This guy has people who really need him.” 

Alex trailed the ambulance to the hospital. “The whole thing was amazing. We do our job. The fire fighters do their job. The doctors do their job. At the end of the day this guy was safe. It was amazing.”

"I just like helping people"

Carillo has a 'can do' attitude.  “When it’s time for ‘big time plays’ I want to be ready and I want to know that I can take that shot. I do my best to make sure I keep up my CPR. I keep up my physical fitness. I just like helping people. I want to be the guy that helps somebody when they need something." 

Alex looks young as you can see from his picture, but he is really long in years. Oro Valley residents are lucky to have him.

Be sure to give Alex a "thumbs up" when you see him on patrol.

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Listen about the two incidents as told by Alex to Jim Horn in his new series "Unsung Heroes." 

Guest View: Diane Peters ~ Rodman-Solomon-Greene campaign postcard is a pack of lies

Town Council candidates Rodman, Solomon, and Greene recently sent out a campaign postcard where they falsely attack “The Other Guys” (Tim Bohen and Bill Garner). They also posted a picture of the postcard on their Facebook pages.

They should have called it “The Other Lies” because everything they said about Bill Garner and Tim Bohen is a lie.

Below are some examples.


• Don’t support law enforcement, first responders, or education
Bill Garner spent 20 years in emergency services including as a firefighter, an emergency medical technician, an assistant squad chief, and an Emergency Management Director. Garner also has a Master’s degree in Public Safety. Does that sound like the resume’ of someone who doesn’t support law enforcement or first responders?

Additionally, when Garner was on council in 2009, it was he and former councilmember Salette Latas who collaborated on a proposal to save 6 police officer positions that were going to be cut from the 2009-2010 police budget. You can read about it HERE.

From Bill Garner’s Facebook page:

I support our police department, as well as the public safety and emergency responders that assist our community in time of need when the call goes out. I have the knowledge and education to know what it takes to serve in this line of work and the value brought by these men and women.

Regarding education, this is a school board issue, not a town council issue. Secondly, Garner has two school-aged children. It’s nonsensical to claim that he doesn’t support education.

• Encourage policies that will likely lead to a property tax
The property tax lie is a scare tactic that they pull every election. Garner was on council from 2008-2016 and never once discussed a desire for a property tax. He has publicly stated that he is opposed to one. The fact is that the Town Council could not institute a property tax even if they wanted to. It has to be placed on the ballot for the citizens to decide. If elected, Bill Garner and Tim Bohen would not even have the power to institute a property tax.

However, Steve Solomon did vote to increase your utility tax from 2% to 4%.

• Have no history of support for neighborhood preservation
When Garner was on council (2008-2016) he (along with Councilmembers Zinkin and Burns) worked with me and my citizens’ group for 9 months during 2014-2015 to “preserve our neighborhood.” Those three council members guided my citizens’ group throughout the process of fighting a Major General Plan Amendment that, if approved, would have completely changed the character of our neighborhood by turning 200 acres of pristine desert into a “Master Planned Community."

Multiple meetings and negotiations took place between my citizens’ group and the applicant. Whenever there was an impasse, Councilmembers Garner, Zinkin, or Burns would negotiate with the applicant on our behalf.

Through 9 months of negotiations, we succeeded in removing apartments, a senior care facility, and almost 300 homes from the plan. We also obtained larger buffer zones between the new development and the existing neighborhoods. The night of the council vote, I publicly thanked Burns-Garner-Zinkin for all of their help. It’s in the PUBLIC RECORD.

Were they too lazy to fact-check or are their lies deliberate?
Either Rodman-Solomon-Greene’s fact checking skills are lacking or they are deliberately lying in order to get votes from uninformed people. Which one is it? Either way, it doesn't speak well of them.  Are these the kind of people that you want on your Town Council?

Mo Greene hides the truth
I posted the above information on Mo Greene’s Facebook page.  Rather than admit to his error and apologize for it, he deleted my comment and blocked me from further posting. I assumed he would do that in order to hide the truth, which is why I took a screenshot immediately after posting it. You can view it below. 

If you want honesty and transparency in Oro Valley government, I suggest that you join me in voting for Bill Garner and Tim Bohen.

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Diane Peters has lived in Oro Valley since 2003, moving here to escape the humidity of the East Coast. She’s been involved in OV politics and development issues since 2006. In 2014, she organized a citizens group that successfully negotiated a controversial 200-acre development project. In her past life, she worked in medical research at various University Hospitals in New England. Her interests include reading, writing, nature photography, travel, art galleries, museums, and politics.

The Police Chief recruitment process is underway

As you know, the Town of Oro Valley is currently searching for a new Chief of Police due to the planned retirement of Chief Danny Sharp in February 2020.

The following is an excerpt from HR Director, Chris Brady’s speech to the Town Council during the July 31, 2019 council meeting

“I can tell you from personal experience, I’ve been through, between fire and police, probably about four recruitments on that level of local government. All but one was an internal/external search. The one where we did internal only did not work out. I’m not saying that would be the case here. I absolutely believe that we have good qualified candidates, but my job is to be objective and give you both sides of this for you to make the best decision.

I talked to my colleagues across the state. I asked them who’s had a police chief recruitment in the past five years. Help me out, what did you do? There was nobody that was internal only… Why they didn’t choose that [internal] I don’t know.

…I don’t think you would go wrong either way, but in the past, executive level recruitments, specifically chief recruitments, it was the goal of my previous councils/managers that they wanted to have a process that was transparent, seemed open to the community, and that’s why we did internal/external.

…The advantage you have there is that you’ll be able to compare internal candidates to other people to make sure that we do have the best of the best. Generally, the practice is for this level position, because of how critical it is, I’ve seen internal/external recruitments typically.”

The below options for police chief recruitment were included in a memo sent to the mayor and town council dated July 19, 2019 from HR Director, Chris Brady.

Options for police chief recruitment include:

• Internal Only Candidates. Supplemental services from an Executive Search Firm may be necessary. The time frame is 2-3 months with a cost estimate of $3,500 - $4,500.

Advantages:
• Faster recruitment process
• Relatively low cost to the Town
• Provides growth opportunities to internal employees
• Candidate will have institutional knowledge of the Town and Police Department

Disadvantages:
• Small pool of candidates
• Potential lack of appearance of a competitive process
• Costs could increase depending on level of outside services required

• Internal and External Candidates. Staff recommends utilizing the services of a Professional Executive Search Firm with experience in hiring local government executives. The time frame is 3-6 months with a cost estimate of $25,000 - $50,000.

Advantages:
• Experience working with elected bodies in objectively guiding the selection of high-profile positions
• Opens recruitment to large pool of talent
• Uses specialized expertise, professionally produced recruitment materials, and established contacts to identify candidates that meet Town Council’s preferred criteria
• Can provide for public input into the process working with consultant at direction of Council
• Capacity for a “deeper dive” into each candidate by utilizing services such as:

- Community Surveys
- Community Engagement Meetings
- Pre-Screened Candidates
- Utilization of the firm’s candidate pool and insight into the candidate’s prior interviewing experiences
- Objective, 3rd party Assessment Centers

•Internal candidates are still included in the process

Disadvantages:
• Costs for search firm fees and expenses
• Could result in the hire of a candidate with no institutional knowledge of the department
• There may be additional charges incurred such as travel for out-of-state candidates

The council voted 4-3 in favor of an internal/external search with Winfield, Barrett, Nicolson, and Jones-Ivey voting for this option with Pina, Rodman, and Solomon opposed.
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Note: In November 2019, Chris Brady left his position to work for Tenet Healtcare.
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Attempted Armed Robbery in Fry's Parking Lot

Editorial ~ The Sign Tamperer. Part 2. “The Smoking Gun”

Part 1 was published on Monday. Please scroll down to read it if you haven’t already done so.

Crime Scene Investigation
The photograph that was published was an overhead shot. A few days after it was published, three Oro Valley residents (including a former law enforcement officer using binoculars) walked the site of the “crime” and could not find a camera attached to either a pole or a building that could have taken the picture from the angle at which it was taken (from above and to the right of the sign).

A security camera on the old Sports Authority building was aimed at the parking lot, not at the area with the sign. This camera was tested nonetheless and found to be inactive. So what happened to the “surveillance” camera? Who put it there, when, and why? It appears to have been removed right after the picture was taken. This leads us to wonder if this “crime” was a staged event.

The Smoking Gun
Also of interest is who filed the complaint. The person who made and posted the sign should be the one who filed the complaint since they are claiming that the sign was their property. This means that the OVPD now knows the identity of the person who deliberately posted many of those same signs directly in front of Axe the Tax signs in an effort to block them from view. This is a Class 2 misdemeanor under ARS 16-1019. Why hasn’t the OVPD issued a citation against them?

Collusion?
Axe the Tax dealt with sign issues for weeks…stolen signs, signs found thrown in a wash, signs bent in half, signs covered by “Why Ax Kids Sports?” signs deliberately placed directly in front of them.

In these instances, the State Statute does apply since these signs were paid for and placed by a PAC. (Axe the Tax PAC).

It’s suspicious that the OVPD turned this “non-story” into front page news and that they pulled this stunt just one week before the election, just in time to make the last issue of the Explorer before election day. Was the OVPD (via marching orders from the mayor) colluding with the Yes on 454 folks to damage the character and credibility of Axe the Tax supporters in a last ditch effort to garner more votes for their $28 million dollar “desperately needed ball fields?”

After all, similar stunts have been pulled in past Oro Valley elections. Remember the “Lou Waters was assaulted by a ream of paper” story that they pulled out during the 2015 Recall Election in order to smear the character of the challengers? That case went to court. Waters lost. We have to wonder what ploys they will conjure up this year in order to tip the scales in their favor for the Town Council election in August.

It bears repeating
We will end Part 2 of this article the same way we ended Part 1. This whole thing smacks of political maneuvering and LOVE does not take kindly to our police being involved in politics.

Editorial ~ The Sign Tamperer. Part 1.

With another Town election coming up in August as the mayor and three Town Council members run for a third term, LOVE would like to report on a campaign problem that is likely to rear it’s ugly head again in a few short months.

Background
Back in early November 2017, many of you saw the photo on the front page of the Explorer of a person who was allegedly seen tampering with a “Why Ax Kids Sports?” sign near the intersection of First and Oracle. The caption accompanying the photo indicated that the “OVPD is asking for the public’s help with a criminal damage investigation.” This seemed a little excessive considering that the sign was not an official campaign sign protected under Arizona State law, but rather, would be considered the equivalent of a Yard Sale sign.

Who’s the Boss?
After you read this article, ask yourself these questions:

• Why is the OVPD putting this much time, effort, manpower, and taxpayer money into investigating the equivalent of someone tampering with a homemade “Yard Sale” sign?

• Does this merit a 3-month long (and counting) investigation? Why are they going to such great lengths to find the “perpetrator” when no campaign laws were violated? Don’t our police have more important things to do?

•Who’s orchestrating this?

• Would the police launch a “criminal damage investigation” if someone had tampered with a Yard Sale sign? Would they post a picture of the person on the OVPD Facebook page AND on the front page of the Explorer newspaper asking for the public’s help in finding this person? Of course not. So why did they do it in this instance?

• Why are they maneuvering to keep the Police Report from the public?

OVPD Withholds release of Police Report
LOVE wanted to report on this story back in November, but in order to report the whole story, we needed to obtain a copy of the Police Report. One of our LOVE readers has been trying to obtain this report since November. The OVPD initially said that it couldn’t be released until the investigation was closed. When the case was finally closed in mid-January and the LOVE reader attempted once again to obtain a copy of the report, the case was suddenly reopened because “new information has been obtained in furtherance of the investigation.”

It’s suspicious that new information was obtained which bars the release of the report just as the report was about to be released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Someone does not want that file to be released.

After waiting patiently for more than three months, LOVE has decided to report on what we know at this time. We’re also reporting on it now because the repeated delays in releasing the Police Report have become a story all on its own.

Why is this story important?
The etiology of the complaint is an important piece of this investigation. The owner of the “property” must be known and identified for any item to be considered “property” under law. Additionally, no complaint is valid or actionable by law enforcement unless a complaint is filed by that “property” owner. Once a complaint is filed, it is required to be disclosed upon any request under Federal FOIA and Arizona Public Records law.

During the Naranja Park Bond election, numerous “Why Ax Kids Sports?” signs were illegally placed directly in front of campaign signs that had been posted by the Axe the Tax PAC. Axe the Tax filed a complaint with the Town. When contacted by the Town Clerk about the illegal placement of these signs [a Class 2 misdemeanor under ARS 16-1019] the Yes on 454 PAC claimed that these signs did not belong to them.

Being that there was no “Paid for by…..” disclosure statement on the signs, it appeared that they were placed by an individual who was not associated with any political action committee. Therefore, it was assumed that they did not belong to the YES on 454 PAC.

Irresponsible Allocation of Town Resources
Since no campaign laws were violated, the amount of time and effort being spent on this investigation is disproportionate to the “crime” that was allegedly committed. The question remains…why? This whole thing smacks of political maneuvering and LOVE does not take kindly to our police being involved in politics.

Part 2 will be published on Wednesday.

Guest View: Brian Gagan ~ Oro Valley’s epic fiscal mismanagement from the Town Hall to the OVPD. Part 2.

Part 1 was published yesterday.

Below are some indicators that the Chief of Police and the Town Council are unskilled regarding contemporary and effective town staffing and law enforcement practice:

• Operational rejection of the fact that most law enforcement officer capability growth occurs largely from officers handling approximately 80% of case responses alone (there is no need for 2-6 officers on the scene more than approximately 20% of the time).

• Very significant and unnecessary headcount leading to excess expense for payroll, employment taxes, facilities, equipment, vehicles, training, and overhead.

• A command staff that is 50% larger than necessary for Oro Valley’s demographics and low incidence of felony and other serious crimes as revealed in the Uniform Crime Report (UCR).  Excess employees always correlate with excess command staff.

• Living a lie regarding supposed Community Policing in Oro Valley. Community Policing is always evidenced by things like foot beats, bicycle beats, always responding to and learning from citizens, and rejection of petty traffic enforcement activities that skilled officers have little interest in. Dispatching four officers or four officers simply showing up anywhere (except for felonies in progress and active shooter calls) is evidence of rejection of community policing by any agency including the OVPD.

• Almost no dash-cams and body-cams (body-cams are worn only by Oro Valley motorcycle officers). This appears to indicate that the OVPD is not concerned about either serious crime or officer safety. Yes, body-cams are slightly expensive, but the savings from laying off three officers is enough to buy body-cams for all remaining officers.

• No drug unit and a false belief within the OVPD that opioids are of no issue whatsoever in Oro Valley.

• Excess delineation and false specialization of duties, divisions, operational silo's, and responsibilities.  Silo's detract strongly from team and agency efficiency.

(Silo's refer to the multitude of separate operating units such as detectives, motorcycle division, school division, special operations, volunteers, etc. each with their own delineated command structure.  This approach is not taken within municipalities of less than about 75,000 population unless it is within a high or very high felony rate location.)

• A substantially under-capable special operations unit (CAT Squad) that works only 4 days per week…and not individually.  Criminals do not take three days off per week and most skilled investigators accept that working alone about 80% of the time leads to more arrests and a much greater conviction rate.  It is easier for a felon to know when he/she is being surveilled by police novices when four officers are engaged in it.

• A pointless (and bordering on useless) training function. Two examples: No officer has ever been trained to stay on their beat or to handle over 80% of their citizen contacts alone.

The above failings have come at an excess cost of between $2.8 million and $4.6 million per year within the police department alone.

A’s hire A’s and B’s hire C’s
We always share with our clients that, “A’s hire A’s and B’s hire C’s.” This explains all the C’s at the OVPD. It has remained overstaffed in a failed attempt to make up for all the C’s who were hired by all the B’s.

Take-home vehicles and IRS violations
The OVPD at last report had 126 vehicles. It should also be noted that the Town of Oro Valley has provided automobiles and motorcycles for personal and business use (take-home vehicles) to nearly 65 town employees, about 34 of which are taken home by OVPD officers. You should also know that the Town has a massive IRS regulation problem due to the fact that personal and commuting usage is not being logged and taxed (including daily commuting miles to as far away as Sahuarita and Casa Grande.) Nearly all commuting and personal vehicle mileage is taxable in Arizona and in the U.S.

Based upon common and contemporary acceptable practice, a town with Oro Valley’s population size (43,000) requires only 4 take-home vehicles within the police department. These should be assigned to the Chief of Police, the Deputy Chief, the Detective Commander, and the Senior Evidence Technician, all of whom are subject to fairly frequent call-out.

An additional 4-7 Town Hall Staff cars should be assigned to senior executives and those subject to off-duty calls on at least 8 occasions per year. This would include the Mayor, the Public Works Director, and perhaps one or two others, with the remainder of that small fleet being utilized on a pool basis (and never being garaged at homes).

All individuals with take-home cars must be subject to call-out and must be called out with significant regularity. ALL employees with take-home cars must be salaried employees with very few job necessity exceptions such as the Senior Evidence Technician.

In summary, there is no actual data or evidence to suggest that Oro Valley is being led intelligently, ethically, or in compliance with  regulations. It is not my intention to damage or disparage any persons…only to stop the financial idiocy of a town being habitually misled and, thus far, being unwilling to correct itself.

Part 3 will be published tomorrow.

Guest View: Brian Gagan ~ Oro Valley’s epic fiscal mismanagement from the Town Hall to the OVPD. Part 1.

My background
In addition to corporate engagements around the world, I do a great deal of work with municipal, county and state governments on many subjects related to contemporary and ethical governmental practice and human capital efficiency/capability improvement. Our goal is that no taxpayer funds are wasted by incompetent and/or malfeasant governmental leaders.

Additionally, I am a former police officer with two separate agencies and a 100% conviction rate for misdemeanor and felony arrests over almost 7 years. I make it a practice to back up police officers throughout the USA.

I bought a home in Oro Valley exactly 3 years ago after having owned multiple homes in multiple states from Massachusetts to California and from Minnesota to Florida. Each of the 10 municipalities in which I have lived have been run highly competently and ethically except for Oro Valley.

My Oro Valley Experience ~ Group Grope
Since moving to Oro Valley in 2014, it has become directly evidenced that few persons at the elected or high appointed levels in Oro Valley have any capability whatsoever in terms of financial, spending and budget skills…or in terms of learning and citizen connection skills.

Mayor Hiremath rejected my request for a meeting, there have been no responses from Chief Sharp to my repeated emails regarding police department failures and malfeasance, and also no response to a Certified Letter that I sent to our new Town Manager, Mary Jacobs back in June.

That does not mean that they are all bad; only that some of them are poorly intended and that most them are poorly led by the current Mayor, Town Council and many current department heads. In my professional life, this is called “group grope.”

They all hire in their own image
The above trait is a common characterization that we use in our firm to describe organizations in dire trouble. Neither poor leaders nor their poorly led teams are self-correcting. In cases such as these, employees are rewarded by their leaders for learning nothing, correcting nobody, and ensuring that incompetence and/or malfeasance remain undiscovered and/or accepted. This is precisely the circumstance here in Oro Valley.

Seismic Overspending without useful outcomes
Through my interactions with Mayor Hiremath, two council members, two department heads, several dubious highly paid leaders, and through endless fact and evidence tracking (direct and publicly available documented evidence) I have observed that between $4,000,000 and $11,000,000 of taxpayer money is being wasted. We refer to that as “stranded spending;” money spent either ignorantly or criminally without positive effect to those providing the revenue. It is time to cease this financial death spiral at the expense of Oro Valley residents.

As one factual example of seismic overspending without useful outcomes, the Oro Valley Police Department is evidenced as being very significantly overstaffed, monumentally under-led, and as a result, significantly incompetent and expensive.

Oro Valley has a population of 43,000 and a low Uniform Crime Report (UCR) incidence (felony crimes of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson) and contains almost no industry and no entertainment or tourist districts.

According to population, UCR data, and best practices for similar size municipalities in Arizona (and also within 50 miles of Oro Valley), the OVPD should consist of approximately the following staff:

Total Sworn and AZPOST Certified Officers: 84

Command Staff (Lieutenant through Chief): 6
Sergeant: 9
Investigative: 6
School Resource Officer (SRO): 7 (one officer per school)
Evidence Technician: 2
Patrol/Uniformed, Non-Rank Officers: 54

All Other Staff, Non-Post Certified: 26

Includes dispatch, office services, records, systems, crime analysis, fleet, secretarial, animal control, etc.

Total Necessary OVPD Staff Count: 110


For comparison, OVPD current headcount is 133 full-time equivalents (FTE’s) including 9 Command Staff, 12 Sergeants, 10 SRO’s, and 60 Patrol Officers, with a proposed budget for 2018 of 136 employees. This indicates planned 2018 over-staffing by 26 FTE’s.

The average annualized cost of a Sworn Police Officer (including benefits and liability insurance) is $81,000 to $87,000 per year in most cases. The average annualized cost for Non-Sworn Staff is $54,000 to $59,000.

…………………………….

UCR is all of the crime data in the USA that is collected by the FBI and is required to be submitted monthly by all U.S. law enforcement agencies.

AZPOST: Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board

SRO’s: The number 7 assumes that Oro Valley desires a police officer in each school. (The problem is that the OVPD mistakenly classifies SRO’s as a separate division with a separate Sergeant with all of the additional related expenses).

Part 2 will be published tomorrow.

Bits and Pieces

Is Mayor Hiremath The King Of Rude or What?

Mayor Hiremath can't seem to resist the urge to chide others.

Town Finance Director Stacey Lemos presented a 5 year projection of town finances at the May 7 council meeting.  Rather than ask for general questions from the council, Mayor Hiremath turned to Council Member Zinkin. Hiremath asked:,"Mr. Zinkin, you'd like to challenge Ms. Lemos' forecast hypothetically 5 years out?" (Source: 5-7-14 Meeting Video at 1:49:20)  Council Member Zinkin was respectful in not directly responding to such a crude comment.  Zinkin yielded the floor to others.

Why does Mayor Hiremath see the need to ridicule, lecture and alienate others? Why can't he see his role as one of accommodating all council members?  Is he simply not capable of being anything but a partisan bully?
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Majority-4 Refuses Citizen Input On How People Are Appointed To Town Boards and Commissions

Another item from the council meeting last week was a discussion of the procedures for appointing people to voluntary town boards and commissions. We will write more about this Monday.

Council Member Zinkin requested that citizen input be heard.  Council Member Garner seconded.

Mayor Hiremath objected on the ground that citizen  input into how this process happens is not relevant because it is a council prerogative.

Watch the video of Mayor Hiremath's reasoning.  You be the judge.

At the beginning of every meeting during World War II, Winston Churchill asked: "Tell me what I don't know."  Churchill clearly understood the wisdom of seeking input from all quarters.  Mayor Hiremath is definitely no Churchill.  We think that he is a bit more "Nixonian." 

By the way, the council voted 3-4 against citizen input.  It was the Majority-4 who voted citizen input down.
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Pima County Bonding Still Alive

Two Oro Valley Pima County Bond requests were discussed at the May 2 meeting of the Pima County Bond Advisory Committee.  One is in the amount of $10 million for Naranja Park.  The elements are to be determined by the Fall.  The other are improvements to River Front Park. (Source)  Still to be determined is the amount of and the timing of the bonds to fund this and the many other projects requested by Pima County communities.
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Get Your Early Ballot For the Primary Mailed To The Right Place

Primary day is August 26. If you are want to vote early you should request a mail-in ballot. If you are not going to be at your home location this summer, but at another fixed location, the county recorder's office will send the ballot to you at the summer location.  The post off ice will not forward a ballot.  After May 27th, you can call the recorder's voters line at 724-4330 to make your request and tell them where to mail the ballot.

Every vote counts.  So be sure you get yours sent to the right place.
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OVPD Investigating Shooting Incident-Death

"Oro Valley, Ariz. (May 15, 2014) - At approximately 10 a.m. this morning, Oro Valley Police officers were driving through an apartment complex at 450 W. Cool Drive on an unrelated matter when they heard a gunshot and saw a male subject in the parking lot with a rifle, hiding behind a truck. Officers took cover and ordered the subject to drop the rifle, but he refused. Officers heard additional shots, and upon approaching the subject, they reported he had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation revealed additional ammunition in the truck. The motive of the individual is unknown and the investigation is ongoing. No officers or other members of the public sustained any injuries.

The deceased's name is being withheld pending next of kin notification. If anyone from the public has any additional information on this case, you are asked to call OVPD at (520) 229-4900." (Source: The Oro Valley Police Department Press Release)

Bits and Pieces

Watch Oro Valley Grow

This month's Oro Valley economic development support a few changes. As we previously reported, Dickey's Barbercue and Grille is slated for Plaza Escondido, which is where Marshall's is located. FUWX Refloxology will locate in Rooney Ranch. Savaya Coffee is going to be located next to the Basis School.

Securaplane In Innovation Park

Meantime projects that are quite visible to us all our either completed or in midstream construction. Secruraplane has open for operations and innovative park, the HS L apartments are growing daily a fast pace. These apartments are located on the west side of Oracle, south of the Oro Valley Marketplace. Town Center, located across from Rooney Ranch, is also growing daily. Finally, blading has been done on the property on the south west corner of Oracle and Desert Sky Road. This is for a memory care facility.
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County Speed Enforcement Cameras Going Bye Bye

"The Pima County Board of Supervisors has voted to shut down all 11 speed-enforcement cameras in the county....They reportedly found no conclusive evidence that fixed, stand-alone cameras effectively and consistently reduce speeds or crashes because drivers tend to decrease speed near the camera and then accelerate after passing."(Source)

Now, the City of Tucson should follow suit.
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Our Voice-Your Future Giving Pies Away

"Oro Valley is planning for the future, and we can’t do it without YOU. Join us for a FREE piece of pie at one of these events, and tell us what you love about OV!

• Saturday, January 11, 2014 12 – 2 p.m. @ All the Buzz Café 12985 N. Oracle Road #165
• Saturday, January 18, 2014 12 – 2 p.m. @ Village Bakehouse 7882 N. Oracle Road 
• Saturday, February 1, 2014 3 – 5 p.m. @ Jerry Bob’s 10550 N. La Cañada Drive

(Source: Oro Valley Press Release)

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Public Awareness: Fraudulent Checks in the Mail

"The Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) has become aware of several residents who have received letters containing fraudulent checks. The letters state the recipient has won a prize and if they make contact with an "agent" they would receive the amount of the check. Other letters ask the resident to pay the taxes upfront to a Western Union account and in return they will receive a larger amount in the mail within 24-48 hours. These are not real checks or winnings and residents should discard them immediately. The OVPD reminds residents to keep track of all bank accounts by checking them often and to periodically check their credit reports to ensure that no unauthorized accounts have been opened." (Source: Oro Valley Press Release)
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Tomorrow's Live Music and Other Stuff at Steam Pump Ranch

"The Town of Oro Valley is proud to announce the guest speaker for the January 11 event at Steam Pump Ranch, located at 10901 N. Oracle Road. Historic Archaeologist Homer Thiel, with Archaeology Southwest, will give a presentation on the archaeology of a Mexican family. His talk begins at 9:30 a.m. and will focus on the Leon family home site, dating between the 1840s and 1910s. Then at 10:30 a.m., attendees will enjoy a live musical performance by Gabriela Ayala, presented by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance."  The event is from 11AM- 2 PM. (Source: Oro Valley Press release)
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