Tucson Police Department Postpones Release of Excessive Force Complaint Records

The Tucson Police Department faced scrutiny for a lengthy delay in releasing records related to excessive force complaints, taking over seven months to respond. The information was eventually made available, but it notably lacked the names of the officers involved.

A request for a detailed list of excessive force complaints from January 1, 2010, to July 8, 2016, was submitted on July 8. This request aimed to document the yearly breakdown of complaints, highlighting both sustained and dismissed allegations.

The findings indicated that disciplinary actions against officers were infrequent, with only five suspensions recorded during the specified period. In late February, the Star received a report that listed various details of the complaints, including case numbers and incident dates, but shockingly omitted the names of the officers involved.

After requesting the names associated with the five suspensions on March 10, the department delayed further responses for two weeks. Eventually, following inquiries to the Tucson Police Department’s Chief of Staff, the information was provided promptly.

This incident raises questions about transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices within the Tucson Police Department.