Off-duty TPD officers to boost Sun Tran security starting this month | News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – Tucson residents can expect increased security measures in and around local transit soon. Starting next Monday, Sun Tran will begin adding off-duty Tucson Police Department (TPD) officers to its existing security.

Sun Tran General Manager Mikel Oglesby noted at Monday’s Tucson Transit Advisory Committee that the deployment of off-duty officers will not be “fully operational” for another two to three weeks. This is part of the larger Transit Safety Action Plan to enhance safety on city transit. Tucson approved an initial $500,000 last month for that plan.

“We could be deploying them one week or one month down one corridor, on one location, on/off vehicles, off buses and then we may deploy them to the transit centers where we have issues,” Oglesby said. “So we’re kind of doing it based on a heat map and trend analysis.”

The plan includes two patrol cars with two officers each, working a total of 60 hours. Oglesby declined to specify exact locations, stating that the deployment would be based on data and a map of problematic areas.

Additionally, Oglesby provided updates on existing security measures involving American Guard Services. These officers are now equipped with body cameras, and some will transition from booth duties to out on the roads.

Oglesby mentioned that use of force limits are also under review, currently that approach is to “observe and report.”