OV Crimefighter

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The Safety Newsletter of the Oro Valley Police Department

This issue:

• Happy Holidays from OVPD
• Dark House Program
• Winter Holiday Safety Tips
• Question & Answer

Happy Holidays from OVPD

As the year winds down, the Oro Valley Police Department would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for the support we receive from our community throughout the year. Whether it’s words of kindness to our officers, meals dropped off at the main station, drawings from school children, or the thousands of volunteer hours given by our Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program (CVAP) members, we truly appreciate it!

Here are some of the things we have accomplished this year:

Safest Cities in Arizona – In March, the Town of Oro Valley was ranked #2 of “Safest Cities in Arizona for 2024” by SafeWise.com. The website extracted the latest data from the FBI crime statistics to make its determination. The Safe Wise report also showed that Oro Valley had the lowest rate of violent crime for the entire state. OVPD is proud of this ranking, as it recognizes our continuous dedication to fight crime and enhance the quality of life in Oro Valley.

Accreditation – OVPD’s Emergency Communications Center (911) became accredited through the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP) this year. We are only the second agency in Arizona to achieve this accreditation! The program allows agencies 24 months to prove that they meet or exceed over 30 standards required for accreditation. Through the hard work of our Accreditation Manager, Communications Center Manager, and staff, it was completed in under a year. This is just one more way that OVPD is working to provide the best service possible to our community.

Grant Funding – OVPD applied for and received multiple federal and state grants totaling approximately $380,000. These grants helped fund overtime, supplies and equipment to enforce traffic safety, combat illegal contraband and human smuggling, purchase equipment that assists in criminal investigations, purchase ballistic vests for police officers, and recruitment and retention of department members. This grant funding helps OVPD to improve programs and services, and reduce crime, all while not adversely impacting the department’s budget.

National Night Out – OVPD, in partnership with Lisa Bayless Realty, Waste Management, Walmart, Tucson Electric Power, Sunstate Equipment, Southwest Gas, and Pima Federal Credit Union, hosted our annual National Night Out event at the Oro Valley Marketplace in late October. There were over 50 displays from partner agencies, food trucks, a helicopter, an obstacle course provided by the Army National Guard, dozens of raffle prizes and free candy! We were overwhelmed with a record attendance of over 6,000 people this year!

Community Outreach – The Community Resources Unit has been busy again this year! We’ve hosted two Citizens Academies (totaling 24 weeks), a summer Teen Academy (40 students), six Dispose-A-Med events collecting over 700 pounds of drugs, four Start Your Engines Ladies automotive classes, and over 30 crime prevention presentations for area businesses, residents, and homeowners’ associations. CRU Officers conducted 18 car seat inspections, managed over 400 Dark House registrations, oversaw 38 Neighborhood Watch groups (26% increase from last year), and coordinated 40 other special events including triathlons, concerts, festivals, and town-sponsored events. Lastly, we published the monthly CrimeFighter Newsletter, reaching over 12,000 readers per month!

We wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year!

Dark House Program

Are you leaving for an extended period of time? Headed out of town for the holidays? Dark House is one of our most popular programs at the Oro Valley Police Department. This program allows Oro Valley residents to register their unoccupied home to be checked by members of our Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program (CVAP) on a regular basis while they are out of town or on vacation for more than one week.

The primary purpose of this program is to offer vacationing, seasonal, and year-round residents the reassurance that if a problem arises at their property, such as suspicious activity, utility emergencies, or other emergency conditions, the resident or their designated keyholder can be contacted quickly. As frequently as staffing allows, CVAP members will check the exterior of your home for any concerns and will notify you if any are found.

Registration is 100% online and completely free! Visit www.ovpd.org and click on “Popular Programs and Services” for more information and to register your home. Once registered, you will receive an email confirmation.

Winter Holiday Safety Tips

The Oro Valley Police Department would like everyone to have a safe and happy holiday season. But don’t let the hustle and bustle of the holidays distract you and allow burglars, purse-snatchers, or other criminals the opportunity to take advantage. Crooks love the holidays as much as everyone else, especially because it’s an opportune time to commit crime; homes packed with glittering new gifts; stores, malls, and streets crowded with unsuspecting shoppers; and people rushing about, focused on last-minute details. It’s enough to make criminals beam with holiday joy.

Here are some tips on how to celebrate safely this holiday season:

If You Are Shopping

• Stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you.
• Park in a well-lighted area, and be sure to lock your vehicle, close the windows, and hide shopping bags and gifts in the trunk.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a credit card or mobile app whenever possible.
• Deter purse-snatchers. Don’t overburden yourself with lots of packages. Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry a purse close to your body or your wallet inside a coat or front pants pocket. Secure your purse to a shopping cart and don’t let it out of your sight.
• Shopping with kids? Make sure they are always near you. Teach them to go to a pre-determined meeting location or find a store employee or security if you get separated.

If You Are Traveling

• Get an automatic timer for your lights.
• Ask a neighbor to watch your home, pick up any mail or packages, or park their vehicle in your driveway.
• Don’t forget to have mail and newspaper delivery stopped. If it piles up, it’s a sure sign you’re gone.
• Sign up for the OVPD Dark House Program to have your home checked (see article above).

Celebrate Responsibly

The holidays are a time of celebration and joy, and alcoholic beverages are sometimes a part of those celebrations. Drinking and driving is a danger to everyone on the road. Anyone with a BAC of 0.08 or higher is legally intoxicated per Arizona state law and can be arrested. You can also be arrested for DUI even if your BAC is under 0.08. The risk is not worth it — if you choose to drink alcohol at a party, don’t drive. Call an Uber or Lyft, get a taxi, or catch a ride with a designated driver. Have fun, but please remember to celebrate responsibly.

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.

Don from Oro Valley asks: If I’m involved in a minor car accident, should I call OVPD or simply exchange information with the other driver? Is dialing 911 okay for a minor accident?

Answer: OVPD is a full-service agency — if you call us for any issue, whether criminal or civil, an officer will typically respond. This includes keys locked in vehicles, animal problems, civil disputes, and minor vehicle crashes. According to A.R.S. 28-663A, drivers involved in an car accident are required to exchange at least the following information: name, address, registration number (plate), and driver’s license information. You are also required to render reasonable aid to anyone injured in the accident, which is easily accomplished by dialing 911. In Arizona, police are required to complete a crash report if the accident caused injuries, death, or over $2,000 worth of damage. In this day and age, minor fender benders can easily cause over $2,000 in damage to vehicles, so filing a police report is always the best practice. Having law enforcement record the details of the situation will protect you in case the other driver tries to misrepresent what happened. Finally, auto insurance companies will ask for a police report number when you are filing your claim, so you might as well contact law enforcement at the time of the crash as opposed to days later. Here in Oro Valley, it is perfectly acceptable to dial 911 for any issue that you need the police or fire for, including minor accidents on public or private property.

Patti from Oro Valley asks: Sometimes I see OVPD patrol cars in Marana or Tucson. Why are they there?

Answer: There are many reasons why you may see OVPD vehicles outside of Oro Valley’s jurisdiction. While our officers primarily serve the Town of Oro Valley, their duties often require travel beyond town limits. Here are some reasons why OVPD officers may be seen outside of town limits:

• Jail Transport – The only adult jail in Pima County is located near I-10 and Silverlake Road, and the juvenile detention facility is located near I-10 and Ajo Way, and officers may need to drive there to book an arrested person.
• Hospitals – There are times when either suspects or victims from incidents are transported to hospitals outside of Oro Valley, and officers, detectives or crime scene technicians need to respond there to continue their investigation.
• Court – Officers frequently testify in court. Felony cases and many other proceedings take place at the Pima County Justice and Superior Courts in downtown Tucson.
• Training – OVPD prioritizes well-trained personnel, and we frequently conduct advanced training. Some of the training facilities we utilize are located at Davis Monthan AFB or near Pima County Fairgrounds.
• Regional Teams – OVPD has officers who are assigned to the Pima Regional Teams, including SWAT, Crisis Negotiation, Bomb Squad, and Critical Incident Team. As a regional concept, these officers often respond to emergencies throughout Pima County and Southern Arizona.
• Call Outs – Many officers or supervisors are on-call for their assignments, even when they are not “on duty”, and subject to being called out from their homes to an emergency. Some of these include Sergeants, Detectives, SWAT, Bomb Squad, Negotiators, K9, and Crime Scene.
• Take-Home Program – Like many agencies across the country, OVPD has a take-home vehicle policy for all officers. Studies have shown that take-home vehicles results in increased vehicle longevity, lower operating costs, lower maintenance costs, improved patrol/shift handoffs (more time on patrol), and more effective response to emergencies.

Crime Statistics (Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2024)

The following statistics are provided to inform citizens of criminal activity occurring in your community.

• Total Calls for Service: 1500
• Homicides: 0
• Robbery: 0
• Assaults: 11
• Burglaries: 1
• Thefts: 40
• Vehicle Thefts: 1
• Recovered Stolen Vehicles: 3
• DUI: 16
• Drug Offenses: 27
• Total Arrests: 145
• Residential Alarms: 47
• Business Alarms: 48
• First Aid Calls: 155
• Fatal Crashes: 0
• Crashes: 34
• Traffic Citations: 216

Upcoming Events

Arizona Heroes Memorial – Ribbon Cutting
Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. — 12 p.m.
Location: Naranja Park (810 W. Naranja Drive)
Details: This ceremony will mark the grand opening of this regional memorial, which serves to honor active-duty military, veterans, first responders, and healthcare workers. Come hear remarks by Mayor Joe Winfield, as well as Dr. Richard Carmona, America’s 17th Surgeon General.

Dispose A Med
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Time: 8 a.m. — 11 a.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.

OV Tree Lighting Celebration, sponsored by SAACA
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Time: 3 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.
Location: Oro Valley Marketplace (11785 N. Oracle Road, near Fork and Fire)
Details: Over 100 artisan booths, food trucks, holiday-themed performances on the main stage, a new Winter Wonderland area for kids, free pictures with Santa and the Golder Ranch Fire Truck, and the tree lighting at 6 p.m.!

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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