For Star subscribers: Gun violence and homelessness are also on the rise, but violent crimes and property crimes decreased in 2022. Police Chief Chad Kasmar says he doesn't consider 2022 a success but remains optimistic about facing challenges ahead.
Caitlin Schmidt , Jamie Donnelly When Chad Kasmar became Tucson police chief at the end of 2021, he said his department was contending with complicated community issues including an uptick in homicides and increasing overdose deaths, as well as a dwindling police force.
People are also reading… Kasmar is clear that he did not consider 2022 a success, but remains optimistic about the challenges the Tucson Police Department will address in 2023, including gun crimes, narcotics, staffing and more. In 2022, officers issued 23,659 criminal and civil citations, according to data provided by TPD. That number was 20.5% higher than in 2021, but nearly 32% lower than the five-year average.
"We made an intentional investment in resources and I wish it had had a larger impact," Kasmar said."The reality in this country is that no one has figured out how to solve traffic fatalities. It's a really complex problem that involves environmental issues and human behavior." He encouraged drivers to slow down, avoid engaging with aggressive drivers, and to stay on main streets at night.
With many U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents relocated from ports of entries to Yuma and El Paso to help with migrant surges, it's become easier for drugs to enter the country on a person's body, Kasmar said. On a recent visit to the border, he said, he watched people come across with no CBP officer in sight for four hours.
People between the ages of 50 and 59 also made up the majority of fatal overdoses in 2022, the data shows. But officers aren't just arresting and deflecting people, they're also saving lives, Kasmar said, adding that officers used Narcan, an opioid-reversing medication, 200 times in the last year."No person who is addicted to fentanyl or methamphetamine will go to jail and come out free from their addiction," Kasmar said."Sometimes people aren't ready for so I'm challenging people to try to get people to go to deflection.
In Tucson, there were 67 homicide cases — some that included multiple fatalities — equating to a total of 75 victims in 2022. "Parents need to talk to their young adults about firearms," he said."We are still seeing young men be involved in disputes and conflicts that used to be handled verbally or with a physical altercation now are going to firearm incidents."
In Tucson, there are more than 3,000 planned officer check-ins each month in eight of the city's most violent areas. The idea behind this method is that the presence of police officers reduces the rate that crimes are committed, and crimes of opportunity don't usually get displaced to other areas where police are not present.
"There's no substitute for just a well-trained, hard working, connected police officer who does rely on job knowledge and instinct and doing a great job. That part of our job will never go away," Kasmar said."Evidence-led policing doesn't change that, it just really highlights and focuses that." The department also maintains a camera registry that allows residents and business owners to voluntarily register surveillance cameras with TPD. This doesn't give the department access to the cameras, but makes them aware a camera exists in the event they are investigating a crime in or around the neighborhood.
This included the creation of more community service officer positions, noncommissioned staff members who respond to situations in which a police officer isn't needed, and expanding the roles and responsibilities of CSOs. There are now 68 CSOs on staff, with another 41 undergoing field training and 36 applicants in the background checking process.
The program is voluntary, but TPD has a waitlist of officers wanting to participate and to develop a skillset to deal with trauma and its lingering effects. Kasmar said it's important to treat the problem and not the symptoms and look at underlying causes. In many cases, a person is shoplifting to support a narcotics habit, and if the demand isn't there, the supply wouldn't be there either, he said.
There are also plans to increase roles for civilians within the department, including a civilian investigator position open to people with certain types of degrees or job experience.
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