The Safety Newsletter of the Oro Valley Police Department
Back to School Safety
With school already back in session, we’ve all seen an increase in congestion on our roadways — buses picking up passengers, kids on bicycles racing to school, and parents hurrying to drop off children before work. There’s never a more important time for drivers to slow down and stay alert than when kids are present, especially before and after school.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children killed while walking to or from school are aged 10 to 18 and walking near roadways. Significantly, pedestrians who are distracted with cell phones or ear buds while walking are nearly four times more likely to be involved in an accident.
A few simple precautions can make a big difference in keeping kids safe:
- Slow down in school zones and neighborhoods, especially during morning and afternoon hours.
- Keep an eye out at crosswalks for students walking or biking to school.
- Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a right turn, and yield to pedestrians who have the right of way.
- Vehicles MUST stop when the school bus lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended.
- Parents, talk to your children about staying alert and avoiding distractions while walking to school. Heads up, phones down!
Romance Scams
Millions of people use online dating apps and social networking sites to meet someone new. Most seek genuine connection, but sadly, not everyone online is who they claim to be. For some, the search for love turns into an encounter with a scammer aiming to steal their money.
What Is a Romance Scam?
A romance scam often begins innocently. You meet someone on a dating site, app, or social media. Soon, they want to move the conversation to email, text, or private messaging. They express deep feelings quickly but always live far away—perhaps stationed overseas, working on an oil rig, or traveling for business.
Then comes the request for money. It might be for a plane ticket to visit, urgent surgery, a customs fee, or another “emergency.” They promise it’s temporary and that they’ll repay you. Scammers use fraudulent photos and fake life stories to build trust, sometimes chatting multiple times a day. Once an emotional bond is formed, they invent a crisis to get you to send money.
In 2024, U.S. victims reported losing $1.3 billion to romance scams—up 27% from 2023. Gift cards were the most common payment method, while cryptocurrency transfers caused the largest individual losses. The average loss per victim was about $15,000.
Common Red Flags
- They can’t meet in person. They claim to be overseas, in the military, or on an oil rig.
- They need urgent financial help. This could be for medical bills, travel costs, visa fees, or a “can’t-miss” investment.
- They control the payment method. They push for untraceable options—wire transfers, gift cards, payment apps, or cryptocurrency.
How to Protect Yourself
Personal Information on the Internet
With school in session and many people posting back-to-school photos of their children, please be mindful of revealing personal information about your child on the internet. Their full name, name of their school, their grade, age and other identifying tidbits could be used by predators and scammers. The safest practice is to keep personal information to an absolute minimum, no matter your privacy settings or friends. Here are some important tips to keep in mind when posting any pictures online:
- Avoid Sharing Personal Information – Be mindful of what’s visible in photos. Avoid images showing school names, logos, or badges, as these can help strangers identify your child’s location.
- Adjust Privacy Settings – Review social media settings so posts are visible only to friends and family, not the public.
- Disable Location Tags – Turn off automatic location tagging on smartphones and social platforms to prevent revealing your child’s school or home address.
- Think About the Background – Watch for street signs, landmarks, or addresses in photos. Blur or crop them to protect privacy.
- Keep It Within the Family – Email pictures directly or use private family albums (e.g., Google Photos, Dropbox) instead of posting them widely.
- Educate Your Children – Talk to kids about online safety, protecting personal information, talking to strangers, and the risks of oversharing.
Start Your Engines Ladies!
Are you aware that the Oro Valley Police Department, in partnership with Catalina Towing & Recovery, hosts a women’s-only automotive care class? It’s true! Several times throughout the year, we host a class at the police department that provides ladies a hands-on experience in basic automotive maintenance. This class helps empower participants by giving them the confidence to understand how vehicles operate, to perform light maintenance, and gives them an understanding of technical jargon that mechanics may use.
Participants will learn the following:
- The basic understanding of how an engine works
- The basic understanding of braking systems
- How to change a tire
- How to check fluids and add if necessary
- How to check belts
- How to check fuses
- How to replace wiper blades
- Battery maintenance
These classes are limited to 18 participants, so you must register in order to get a spot. We are planning more classes this fall. To get registered, email the Community Resources Unit at CRU@orovalleyaz.gov,
Question & Answer
As police officers, we are often asked questions from members of the public about various topics, such as traffic issues, why officers do what they do, or other legal questions. Here are some answers to questions that we’ve recently heard.
Jennifer from Oro Valley asks: When driving through a school crosswalk that is being speed limited for school children crossing, it’s clear when one should slow down to 15 mph. At what point is it okay to resume the previous speed?
Answer: When driving through a marked school zone, there will be a portable 15 mph speed limit sign placed in the street approximately 75 to 300 feet before the crosswalk. That sign is where the 15 mph speed limit begins, and drivers are not allowed to pass other vehicles, even if they are moving slower or completely stopped. Once you safely pass the crosswalk, you are then allowed to return to the normal speed limit for that road.
Here is some more information from ADOT on navigating school zones:
https://azdot.gov/blog-article/better-safe-sorry-arizona-school-zones-aim-provide-safe-crossings
Crime Statistics (May 1 – May 30, 2025)
The following statistics are provided to inform citizens of criminal activity occurring in your community.
| Total Calls for Service | 1298 |
| Homicides | 0 |
| Robbery | 0 |
| Assaults | 7 |
| Burglaries | 3 |
| Thefts | 35 |
| Vehicle Thefts | 0 |
| Recovered Stolen Vehicles | 1 |
| DUI | 11 |
| Drug Offenses | 32 |
| Total Arrests | 141 |
| Residential Alarms | 40 |
| Business Alarms | 31 |
| First Aid Calls | 23 |
| Fatal Collisions | 0 |
| Collisions | 43 |
| Traffic Citations | 188 |
Upcoming Events
Free Sandbags for OV Residents
Date: Now through September 30, 2025
Time: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Location: Naranja Park (810 W. Naranja Drive, between archery range and dog park)
Details: Free sandbags are self-service. Bring your own shovel. Limit of 10 bags.
National Night Out 2025
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Location: Walmart Supercenter parking lot (2150 E. Tangerine Road)
Details: A FREE event with over 50 law enforcement displays, a helicopter, fire trucks, food trucks, free candy, 70-foot obstacle course, and awesome raffle prizes! Wear your costumes!
Dispose A Med
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: OVPD Main Station (11000 N. La Canada Drive)
Details: Pills only. No liquids, creams, aerosols or sharps. Please leave medications in their original containers.Sign Up for CrimeFighter Newsletter!
If you would like to automatically receive the CrimeFighter Newsletter via email every month, scan the QR code below or click HERE to sign up. Remember to select the “Public Safety & Crime Prevention” box.
Alternatively, you can sign up by going to the Town of Oro Valley website (orovalleyaz.gov), click on the News tab, and click on “Subscribe to get news and event updates”. Remember to select the “Public Safety & Crime Prevention” box.
Contact us:
Main Lobby:
11000 N. La Cañada Drive
24 Hour Non-Emergency:
(520) 229-4900
Community Resources Unit:
Sun City Substation
1171 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Suite 115
(520) 229-5080
cru@orovalleyaz.gov
