General FAQs
Why did the Police Department's approved FY 2011/2012 budget increase by 4.6%?
Has the Police Department reduced its number of employees since the slumping economy?
What does creating "budget capacity for grants" mean and why is it important?
Why does the Police Department have take-home vehicles?
When I call for help, why am I asked so many questions?
Why hasn't the suspect in my case been arrested or charged yet?
What is forensic evidence? How does it help solve a case?
What happens if a police officer does not show up to court?
Where does the money go that is collected from traffic citations?
Does the Oro Valley Police Department conduct fingerprinting for the public?
What do members of the Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program do?
Do members of the Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program (CVAP) write traffic citations?
Does Oro Valley have radar/red light cameras?
What is the tall monopole tower at the Oro Valley Police Department?
Why was the PCWIN tower located at the Oro Valley Police Department?
Why did the Police Department’s approved FY 2011/2012 budget increase by 4.6%?
The Fleet and IT programs, along with their budgets, returned to the Police Department as it was in FY 2008/2009. These transfers provide operational efficiencies and offset unintended overtime expenses. Therefore, it made economic sense to return these programs back to the Police Department budget. With the exception of these programs, the overall Police Department budget for FY 2011/2012 was reduced by $39,060.
| FY 2010/2011 | FY 2011/2011 | Difference | |
| Approved Budget | $11,566,573 | $12,096,513 | |
| Costs for Fleet | $467,000 | ||
| Costs for IT | $102,000 | ||
| $11,566,573 | $11,527,513 | ($39,060) |
Has the Police Department reduced its number of employees since the slumping economy?
Yes. In comparing FY 2008/2009 to FY 2011/2012 budget, the Police Department reduced staffing equivalent to 13.35 Full Time Employees. This includes eliminated and unfilled positions. During that same period, the Police Department’s operations and maintenance budget was reduced over 25% or $438,535. The Police Department continues to apply for competitive grants to offset the reduction of full-time employees; however, those opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. Because of the decline of full-time personnel, there has been a reduction in the following areas:
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What does creating “budget capacity for grants” mean and why is it important?
The Town of Oro Valley constantly explores opportunities to receive grant funding in various and unpredictable amounts. In order to accept this funding, the capacity needs to be included in the budget to accept and spend these additional revenues. For example, the Oro Valley Police Department is projected to receive over $600,000 in State and Federal grants for FY 2011/2012. These monies are incorporated into the budget; however, it is at no cost to the Town.
When I call for help, why am I asked so many questions?
When you call 9-1-1 in Oro Valley, your call will be answered by a dispatcher in our Police Communications Bureau. Dispatchers are trained to ask specific questions in order to determine and ensure they notify the appropriate, needed emergency services, such as police, fire or medical. The information gathered (i.e. incident location) by the dispatcher is relayed to the officers, via radio and mobile computers, and assist them in determining their driving response, with the flow of traffic or with lights and siren.
Because you called 9-1-1, you are a valuable asset to the investigation, no matter how big or small the incident may seem. Dispatchers will ask for information such as clothing descriptions, suspect information and details of an incident while it is in your sight and/or fresh in your memory. Police officers rely on you because your descriptions and observations may play an important role in the apprehension of a suspect and court testimony.
What will happen with my case after the police have taken the report? How do I get a copy of the report?
A case report will memorialize the event as it was reported to the police. After a police officer takes your report, a sergeant or other supervising officer approves it. If there is no further information on any suspects, witnesses or investigative leads, the case is closed. A closed case could be reopened if new information is obtained. If the report requires followup outside the patrol division, it is sent to the criminal investigation unit to be assigned to a detective. Depending on the active caseload, some cases take several days for the assigned detective to followup. All cases are sent to the Records Division, regardless if it is closed or assigned to detective.
As with any case, there is the chance one event may connect to similar incidents. All cases are analyzed by the Department’s Crime Analyst to determine crime trends or patterns and other avenues of the investigation. Assigned cases are prioritized by crime severity, solvability and impact on the community.
All cases are retained physically and on electronic file with the Oro Valley Police Department’s Records Unit. Active cases will not be released until an arrest is made or the case is closed. If you need a copy of a case, it is generally available for dissemination within 7-10 business days. There is a fee of $5.00 for a case report (10 or less pages); any additional pages are $0.25. We accept cash, money order or a cashier’s check.
Why hasn’t the suspect in my case been arrested or charged yet?
Police officers and detectives must “build” a case in order to charge someone with a crime. By law, to charge someone with a crime, police authorities require probable cause. This means a certain threshold of physical, testimonial or factual evidence must be obtained.
In some situations, active cases can take up to five business days to reach their assigned detective. In criminal cases, when there is no arrest at the crime scene, the evidence is presented to the criminal prosecutor; he/she then makes a determination on the charges to be filed.
A criminal case falls into the category of felony or misdemeanor. As with all criminal cases, the criminal prosecutor finalizes appropriate charges, and if the case is a felony, it is presented to a grand jury for indictment. If the prosecutor declines the case, based on either a lack of evidence or other factors, the case may be waived from a felony to a misdemeanor, or dismissed entirely.
What is forensic evidence? How does it help solve a case?
Forensic evidence consists of items of evidentiary value not immediately visible at a crime scene. For example, items touched or used by a possible suspect may contain DNA or fingerprints. Fingerprints may only be obtained from a smooth surface.
If forensic evidence is present, specially trained technicians collect it and it is sent to a crime lab for further analysis. Once laboratory evidence is obtained, it is used to scientifically connect a suspect to the crime.
For example, a recent case illustrated how forensic evidence can help solve a case. During an investigation, a series of reports indicated that a suspect entered female tenant apartments who were not home and performed illegal sexual acts. Forensic evidence collected at the scenes was able to identify a suspect. When an OVPD patrol officer arrested the suspect on an unrelated charge, detectives were able to use the forensic evidence to connect and charge the suspect with the crimes.
What happens if a police officer does not show up to court?
The Oro Valley Police Department has a policy that outlines discipline for officers who do not appear in court. If you have received a civil or traffic citation and the officer does not appear in court, the citation may be dismissed. If you are appearing in court on a criminal matter, not related to traffic laws, and the officer does not appear, the case will continue if the prosecutor can prove the case with other witnesses or victims in the case. If the officer’s testimony is important to the case, the prosecutor may request a continuance or dismiss the case.
Where does the money go that is collected from traffic citations?
The Magistrate Court collects citation fines and disburses the revenue as Arizona State law mandates. A majority of the fines are disbursed to the State of Arizona. The remaining funds are provided to the Town to offset the Court’s budget. The following figures show the revenue generated and the low percentage the Town receives.
| Fiscal Year 2010 / 2011 | |
| Citation Fines Collected | $832,317 |
| State of Arizona | - $406,455 |
| Town's General Fund | $425,862 |
The Court’s budget for FY 2010/2011 was $753,772 and the Town received about 56% of that budget from citations.
It remains a constant misconception that writing citations is a profit-making venture for the Town. Traffic citations are used to modify driving behavior, which promotes public safety on Oro Valley roadways.
I came to the Police Department’s main station to speak with an officer and the Police Department was closed.
The Oro Valley Police Department provides 24 hour a day police services. An Oro Valley dispatcher will answer the phone any time, day or night, if you call 911. You can also reach communications personnel by dialing the non-emergency number, (520) 229-4900, and follow the automated prompts.
The office hours of the Police Department are Monday – Friday from 8 am - 5 pm. If you need to speak with Records, Property and ID or any member of Command Staff, please do so during office hours.
If you come to the Police Department before 8 am or after 5 pm and need to speak to an officer, please go to the Department’s north lobby. The north lobby is open 24 hours; however, it is not staffed. There is a phone inside the north lobby for you to call communications personnel and they will contact an officer for you. There are signs posted on the exterior of the Police Department’s building to direct you to the north lobby.
Does the Oro Valley Police Department conduct fingerprinting for the public?
Yes. The Oro Valley’s Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program (CVAP) members fingerprint citizens. Fingerprinting
What do members of the Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program do?
Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program (CVAP) provides the opportunity for active adult citizens to serve their community by assisting the Oro Valley Police Department in non-emergency situations.
Volunteers are an effective visual crime deterrent by patrolling residential neighborhoods, business complexes and shopping centers. They provide officers with assistance at accidents, incidents and events. Volunteers routinely help citizens needing directions or assisting after their vehicle breaks down. They utilize a patrol car equipped with a License Plate Reader that detects stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, warrants and missing people. The Volunteers also have members on a call out team that are contacted when patrol officers need their assistance at a scene. They have been called out for incidents including gas leaks, neighborhood evacuations as well as fatal traffic accidents. During Oro Valley events such as El Tour De Tucson, Holiday Parade, Halloween Safe Treats, Arizona Distance Classic, July 4th Celebration and IronKids Triathlon, the Volunteers provide assistance with setup, breakdown and traffic control.
Volunteers can be found assisting in the main police station and the Rancho Vistoso substation. They answer phone calls and assist citizens with general questions and directions. Volunteers assist Community Resource Officers with community presentations and community safety events. They also produce and tabulate Citizen Surveys, which are distributed to citizens by patrol officers, school resource officers, community resource officers and volunteers. The Citizen Survey's statistics are reported quarterly to the Chief’s Advisory Committee and are published on the Department’s website. The Volunteers manage the Police Department’s public fingerprinting program. Other special assignments include assisting the Town’s Fleet Mechanic, computing collision statistics for the Department’s Motor/Traffic Unit, updating the citation sanction envelopes for the Oro Valley Magistrate Court, Video ID and the Darkhouse programs.
The Volunteers are an invaluable resource to the Police Department, the Town and the community. For additional information, please visit our CVAP webpage.
Do members of the Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program (CVAP) write traffic citations?
No, CVAP members are not trained to enforce any traffic laws. We rely on our CVAP members to be extra eyes and ears while on patrol and report anything that may need an officer’s attention. In addition, they assist in a variety of areas.
Does Oro Valley have radar/red light cameras?
No, Oro Valley does not have any speed detection or red light cameras. Many citizens have noted the small white cameras mounted on top of the traffic signal posts. The cameras do not detect speed or check for red light violations. The purpose of the camera is to facilitate traffic in the intersection. The live picture is linked to the traffic signal box. When vehicles enter the area monitored by the camera, it tells the light that there is a need to cycle. This technology has moved traffic management forward. It allows the traffic light to cycle based on the traffic needs at the time, as opposed to being set to cycle on a timed loop.
Reverse 911 is a community notification system. Most Oro Valley residents know they can call 9-1-1 to get assistance in the event of a police, fire or medical emergency. With the Reverse 911 System, Oro Valley’s emergency services personnel can also notify residents and businesses about a potential emergency circumstance by telephone. To read more about it and to register, visit our Reverse 911 webpage.
What is the tall monopole tower at the Oro Valley Police Department?
The monopole tower located at the Oro Valley Police Department was constructed to support the Pima County Wireless Integrated Network (PCWIN). The mission of the PCWIN project is to design, procure, deploy and operate a countywide public safety voice communications network; improve public safety radio interoperability; and to design, construct and operate a countywide communication center and emergency operations center.
Interoperability has been heightened as a nationwide concern since the national terrorist attacks of 9/11. Public safety agencies across the state are often hampered in communications with one another because they are not on the same bandwidth or frequency in their operational communications. Arizona and its counties have tried to address this dilemma for nearly a decade. Jurisdictions within Pima County recognized the need to put a system in place that allowed police, sheriff, emergency and fire entities, municipal and county jurisdictions to be able to communicate with one another. PCWIN is intended to provide this ability through the platform system that County voters approved.
Why was the PCWIN tower located at the Oro Valley Police Department?
The success of this project depends largely upon the cooperating jurisdictions throughout Pima County. It is important to strategically place the required equipment throughout the region in accordance with the technical developers. The site at OVPD was chosen for the ability to provide adequate coverage to the terrain in the northwest portion of Pima County and the proximal distance to appropriate technological infrastructure.
Why does the Police Department have take-home vehicles?
The OVPD take-home vehicle program began prior to December 3, 1985. When the Chief of Police identifies the benefit of assigning a specific unit or individual with a take-home-vehicle, the vehicle is assigned. The following considerations are accounted for when issuing take-home vehicles:
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Members are subject to on-call responsibilities
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Reduce response times to critical incidents
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Geographical location of members’ duty stations
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Operational necessity based on assignment
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Enhanced supervision and service audit capabilities
Other agencies reviewed and studied their successful take-home vehicle programs and determined the common themes OVPD has, these include:
Crime Prevention: Criminals are less likely to commit crimes in a neighborhood where a marked police vehicle is parked. Residents feel safer due to the “billboard effect”.
Cars Last Longer/Cost Less: Five to six years is the typical life span of a 24/7 police car used by several officers. Take-home cars have an expected life expectancy of seven years minimum. There is an approximate 5% increase each year for the purchase of a new vehicle and associated equipment. Additionally, each time a vehicle is built-out to specifications, there is a measurable cost for the labor of each task performed.
Currently, members with take-home vehicles are responsible to coordinate and schedule the service of his/her assigned vehicle. To date, one employee is responsible for the scheduling and coordination of all non take-home vehicles. Absent the take-home vehicle program, the fleet maintenance employee’s workload would increase beyond the ability of one individual. At a minimum, this would require the hiring of a part-time employee to assist in the maintenance and upkeep of the fleet.
A Sense of Ownership: History dictates members generally take better care of cars personally assigned to them, which also increases morale and can be a recruitment tool. During an August 6, 2008 study session on Police Recruitment and Retention, it was suggested by Town Council that the Police Department complete a recruitment and retention survey to identify what is important to our officers. The results of the survey indicated a take-home vehicle program was the most popular strategy. Since police recruiters are drawing from the same applicant pool, it is important that candidates consider every facet of employment.
It is easier to hold an individual accountable then multiple people using the same vehicle. Additionally, the fleet looks better, the professional projection of OVPD is bolstered and accountability is increased.
Overtime is Decreased Almost Daily: Members with take-home vehicles can respond to calls on their way to work, allowing members already on duty to leave at their scheduled time. If they did not have take-home vehicles, this would create overtime by holding over the scheduled shift. The alternative would be to “stack” calls for service causing delayed responses until the oncoming shift is available. Calls for services include motor vehicle accidents, emergency calls in progress, etc.
Quicker Response and Preparedness to Critical Incidents: Every member with a take-home vehicle, including officers assigned to critical response units, can respond from home at anytime with all the needed equipment. Without a take-home car, members must respond to the station first (perhaps passing the incident location or being stuck in traffic), locate a vehicle, gather equipment, load equipment and then respond. In critical situations, such as barricaded persons, shootings, explosive device threats, manhunts, etc., swift workforce deployment is vital when minutes count.
Lastly, and Perhaps the Most Important to Many People: It saves tax dollars! Figures studied by agencies, such as Galloway Township Police Department, Tacoma Washington Police Department and Golf Coast University’s Southwest Center for Public and Social Policy, published findings of take-home vehicles. The studies focused on take-home vehicles versus pool vehicles. All the studies found take-home vehicles were less expensive than operating pooled vehicles. The studies also cited much of the same benefits the Town receives with the current Police Department Take-Home Vehicle program. Below is an example of the compared costs of OVPD pool vehicles and take-home vehicles.
| Cost Per Mile from July 1, 2010 - June 29, 2011 | |||
| Pool Vehicles | Take-home Vehicles | ||
| Unit # | Cost Per Mile | Unit # | Cost Per Mile |
| 727 | $0.38 | 802 | $0.24 |
| 728 | $0.32 | 805 | $0.22 |
| 804 | $0.33 | 809 | $0.26 |
| 807 | $0.32 | 812 | $0.27 |
| 811 | $0.31 | 813 | $0.26 |
| Avg. | $0.33 | Avg. | $0.25 |
OVPD take-home vehicles cost on average 25% less to operate than pool vehicles.
It is true there may be added expenses with fuel and extra miles when the employee drives to and from their residence; however, many times, the benefits mentioned produce an overall savings. In conclusion, a take-home vehicle provides a higher level of service and higher level of safety to the community.